Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is at Corinth, and all God's people all over Greece;

which comforteth us in all our tribulation, insomuch that we are able to comfort them which are troubled, in whatsoever tribulation it be, with the same comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For just as I have more than my share in the sufferings of the Christ, so also through the Christ I have more than my share of comfort.

Whether we be troubled for your consolation and salvation, which salvation showeth her power in that ye suffer the same afflictions which we also suffer; or whether we be comforted for your consolation and salvation:

yet our hope is steadfast for you inasmuch as we know how, that as ye have your part in afflictions, so shall ye be partakers of consolation.

Brethren, I would not have you ignorant of our trouble, which happened unto us in Asia. For we were grieved out of measure passing strength, so greatly that we despaired even of life.

Also we received an answer of death in ourselves, and that was done because we should not put our trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead to life again -

and which delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver - on whom we trust, that yet hereafter he will deliver us,

by the help of your prayer for us: That by the means of many occasions, thanks may be given of many on our behalf, for the grace given unto us.

Our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in singleness of heart and with godly pureness - and not in fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God - we have had our conversation in the world, and most of all to you-wards.

We write no other things unto you, than that ye read and also know. Yea, and I trust ye shall find us unto the end

as some of you have come to understand me, and that you will understand that you have a right to be proud of me, as I have of you, on the Day of our Lord Jesus.

And in this confidence was I minded the other time to have come unto you, that ye might have had yet one pleasure more,

that is, to go by you on my way to Macedonia, and then to come back to you from Macedonia, and have you send me on to Judea.

When I thus wise was minded: Did I use lightness? Or think I carnally those things which I think, that with me should be "yea, yea," and "nay, nay?"

As certainly as God is to be trusted, my message to you has not been a "Yes" that might mean "No."

For God's son Jesus Christ which was preached among you by us - that is to say, by me and Silvanus and Timothy - was not "yea" and "nay": but in him it was "Yea."

for to all the promises of God he supplies the "Yes" that confirms them. That is why we utter the "Amen" through him, when we give glory to God.

And he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God,

I call God for a record unto my soul, that for to favor you withal, I came not any more unto Corinth.

Not that we be lords over your faith: but helpers of your joy. For by faith ye stand.

But I determined this in myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

For if I make you sorry: who is it that should make me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

And I wrote this same epistle unto you, lest if I came, I should take heaviness of them, of whom I ought to rejoice. Certainly this confidence have I in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For in great affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears: not to make you sorry, but that ye might perceive the love which I have most specially unto you.

But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

It is sufficient unto the same man that he was rebuked of many.

So that now contrariwise ye ought to forgive him and comfort him: lest that same person should be swallowed up with overmuch heaviness.

Wherefore I exhort you, that love may have strength over him.

For this cause verily did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye should be obedient in all things.

The man that you forgive I too forgive. For if I have forgiven him anything, it is what I have forgiven him in the very presence of Christ for your sake,

that we may not be over-reached by the Adversary, for of his devices we are not ignorant.

So that when I came to Troas on account of the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me in the Lord,

I was so uneasy in my mind for not finding Titus my brother, that taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place.

For we are unto God the sweet savor of Christ, both among them that are saved, and also among them which perish:

to the one a deadly perfume that leads to death, to the other a living perfume that leads to life.

Now who is qualified for such a task? I am, for I am not a peddler of God's message, like the most of them, but like a man of sincerity, like a man that is sent from God and living in His presence, in union with Christ I speak His message.

Do you say that this is self-recommendation once more? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

in that ye are known, how that ye are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us and written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.

Such is the confidence that I have through Christ in my relations to God.

not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as it were of ourselves; but our ableness cometh of God;

who also hath enabled me to be a minister of the new covenant, not of the literal sense, but of the spiritual meaning: it is the letter that denounces death, but the spirit gives life.

If the ministration of death through the letters figured in stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses for the glory of countenance - which glory nevertheless is done away -

Will not the religion that confers the Spirit have still greater glory?

For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory!

For no doubt that which was there glorified is not once glorified in respect of this exceeding glory.

Then if that which is destroyed was glorious, much more shall that which remaineth be glorious.

Seeing then that we have such trust, we use great boldness;

and do not as Moses - which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel should not see for what purpose that served, which is put away.

Their minds were dulled. For to this day, that same veil remains unlifted, when they read the old agreement, for only through union with Christ is it removed.

but when their mind shall turn to the Lord, that veil too shall be taken away.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

And, we all, with unveiled face, receiving and reflecting, the glory of the Lord, into the same image, are being transformed, from glory into glory, - even as from a Spirit that is Lord.

Therefore seeing that we have such an office, even as mercy is come on us, we faint not:

I disown disgraceful, underhanded ways. I refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's message. It is by the open statement of the truth that I would commend myself to every human conscience in the sight of God.

If our Gospel be yet hid, it is hid among them that are lost,

in whom the god of this age did blind the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God;

For it is not myself but Christ Jesus that I am proclaiming as Lord; I am only a slave of yours for Jesus' sake.

For it is God that commanded the light to shine out of darkness, which hath shined in our hearts, for to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellent power of it might appear to be of God, and not of us.

persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed ??10 wherever I go, I am being killed in the body as Jesus was, so that the life of Jesus may come out in my body:

And we always bear in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might appear in our bodies.

For we which live, are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might appear in our mortal flesh.

So it is death that operates in my case, but life that operates in yours.

Seeing then that we have the same spirit of faith, according as it is written - "I believed and therefore have I spoken" - we also believe, and therefore speak.

For we know that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us, also, by the means of Jesus, and shall set us with you;

for all things I do for your sakes, that the plenteous grace by thanks given of many, may redound to the praise of God.

That's why we are not discouraged. No, even if outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are being renewed each and every day.

For our present light affliction works out for us an eternal fullness of glory, excelling all excellence, ls while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen: for the things seen are temporal; but the things not seen are eternal.

because I do not keep my eyes on things that are seen but things that are unseen. For things that are seen are temporary, but things that are unseen are eternal.

We know surely if our earthy mansion wherein we now dwell were destroyed, that we have a building ordained of God, a habitation not made with hands, but eternal in heaven:

for also in this we groan, with our dwelling that is from heaven earnestly desiring to clothe ourselves,

so yet if it happen that we be found clothed, and not naked.

For as long as we are in this tabernacle, we sigh and are grieved: for we would not be unclothed: but would be clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

He that hath ordained us for this thing, is God: which very same hath given unto us the earnest of the spirit.

Therefore, we are always of good cheer, and know well that as long as we are at home in the body we are absent from God.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every man may receive the works of his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Seeing, then, that we know how the Lord is to be feared, we fare fair with men. For we are known well enough unto God. I trust also that we are known in your consciences.

We praise not ourselves again unto you, but give you an occasion to rejoice of us, that ye may have somewhat against them, which rejoice in the face, and not in the heart.

'I am beside myself,' am I? Well, that is between myself and God. I am 'sane,' am I? Well, that is in your interests;

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, if one be dead for all, that then are all dead:

and that he died for all, because that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves: but unto him which died for them and rose again.

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh. Insomuch that though we have known Christ after the flesh, now henceforth know we him so no more.

so that if any one is in Christ -- he is a new creature; the old things did pass away, lo, become new have the all things.

and all things are of the God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation:

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then are we messengers in the room of Christ: even as though God did beseech you through us. So pray we you, in Christ's stead, that ye be at one with God:

for he hath made him to be sin for us, which knew no sin, that we by his means should be that righteousness which before God is allowed.

We as helpers therefore exhort you, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

For he saith, "I have heard thee in a time accepted: and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee." Behold, now is that well accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

Let us give no man occasion of evil, that in our office be found no fault:

On the contrary, I am trying in everything to prove to people that I am a true servant of God: by my tremendous endurance in sorrows, distresses, difficulties;

by preaching the truth; through the power of God [i.e., possibly including miracles]; and by [using] weapons of righteousness in [our] right and left hands. [Note: This could allude to offensive and defensive weapons and means that Paul was fully equipped to do whatever was right].

It is not that I am cramping you, it is your own affections.

That you may repay me in like manner, (I speak as to children,) be you also enlarged.

What concord hath Christ with Belial? Either, what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath a shrine of God with idols? For, we, are the shrine of a God, that liveth: - even as God hath said - will dwell in them, and walk, and will be their God, and, they, shall be my people.

Therefore, "Come out from them, And separate from them, says the Lord, And touch nothing that is unclean. Then I will welcome you,