PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy my brother, to the church of God which is in Corinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia:

who con soles us in all our afflictions, so that we are able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

And if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which salvation is effected by your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer; (and our hope in you is steadfast;) or if we are consoled, it is for your comfort and salvation;

because we know, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you shall be partakers of the comfort.

For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which came upon us in Asia, that we were exceedingly oppressed, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.

But we have in ourselves the sentence of death, that we may not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead;

who delivered us from so great a death, and does still deliver us: in whom we have confidence, that he will continue to deliver us,

if you also unite in prayer for our aid, that the favor bestowed on us, through the intercession of many persons, may cause thanks to be given by many for us.

For the ground of our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience that we have lived in the world more abundantly, indeed, for you in sincerity and godly purity, not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God.

as some of you also acknowledge us, that we are the cause of your rejoicing, even as you, also, are of ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

And in this confidence I intended to go to you before, that you might have a second benefit;

In forming this purpose, did I, therefore, behave with levity? or do I purpose what I purpose, according to the flesh, that there may be with me, yes yes, and no, no?

But I call on God as a witness against my soul, that wishing to spare you, I did not go to Corinth;

not that we are lords over your faith, but fellow- workers for your joy: for by faith you stand.

But I determined this in myself, that with sorrow I would not again come to you:

for if I cause you to grieve, who is he that makes me glad, but he that is made sorry by me?

And I wrote to you this very thing, that, on coming to you, I might not have sorrow from those from whom I ought to receive joy; because I have confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For out of much affliction and distress of heart, I wrote to you with many tears: not that you might be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you.

so that, on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest such a one should be swallowed up in too much sorrow.

For I wrote to you for this purpose also, that I might have a sure proof from you, whether you are obedient in all things.

not that we are able, of ourselves, to devise any thing, as from ourselves; but our ability is from God,

For if the ministering of death, by means of a covenant that was written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the sons of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses, on ac count of the glory of his face, which glory was to come to an end:

For that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that surpasses.

For if that which was to come to an end was glorious, much more that which is to remain is glorious.

and do not as Moses did, who put a vail over his face, so that the sons of Israel could not steadily look to the end of that which was to come to an end.

whose unbelieving minds the god of this age has darkened, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine to them.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be God's and not our own.

always bearing about in our body the violent death of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our body.

For we who live are continually delivered up to death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

But, having the same spirit of faith, according to that winch is written, I believed, and for this reason I have spoken; we also believe, and for this reason we speak,

knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also by Jesus, and present us together with you.

For all these afflictions are for your sakes, that the favor which abounds to me, may, through the thanksgiving of the many, abound richly to the glory of God.

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.

For we know that if our earthly house, which is but a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house that is from heaven,

For we who are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened, not because we wish to be unclothed, but clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now, he that has formed us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore, we are always confident, especially since we know that, while living in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each may receive his reward for the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether good or evil.

Knowing, then, the fearful judgment of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest to God. I hope, indeed, that we are also made manifest in your consciences.

We do not again commend ourselves to you, but give you an occasion to boast of us, that you may be able to answer those who glory in appearance, and not in heart.

For the love of Christ constrains us, because we have this judgment that if one died for all, then have all died:

and he died for all, that those who live should no more live for them selves, but for him who died for them, and rose again.

that is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to him self, not charging their offenses to them, and he has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

for he has made him, who knew no sin, a sin-offering for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

As co-workers with him, we beseech you, that you receive not the grace of God in vain:

for we put no stumbling-block in any man's way, in order that this ministry may not be blamed;

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

I do not say this to condemn you; for I have said before, that you are in our hearts, so that we could die with you, and live with you.

and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you when he told us of your strong affection, your grief, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced the more.

For although I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that the same letter gave you sorrow, though but for a short time.

Now I rejoice not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed in order to repentance. For you sorrowed in a way acceptable to God, that you might in nothing receive injury from us.

For behold this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner; what earnestness it produced in you; what defense of yourselves; what indignation; what fear; what strong affection; what zeal; what assertion of right. In all respects you have shown yourselves to be blame less in this matter.

Therefore, though I wrote to you, it was not on account of him who did the wrong, nor on account of him who received the wrong; but that our diligent care for you, in the sight of God, might be made manifest to you.

I rejoice that I have confidence in you in all things.

that under an afflicting trial, their overflowing joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality;

for I testify that according to their power, and beyond their power, they gave voluntarily,

beseeching us, with much entreaty, that they might give, and take part in the ministering to the saints;

so that we exhorted Titus, that, as he had previously begun, so he would bring to an end this gift among you also.

Now as you excel in every thing, in faith, and in speech, and in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gift also.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet, for your sakes, he became poor, that you, through his poverty, might become rich.

Now, therefore, perfect also the doing of this; that as there was a readiness of mind to be willing, so also there may be an accomplishment of the doing, out of that which you have.

For I do not intend that there shall be relief to others, and affliction to you; but that, according to equality, your abundance, at the present time, may supply their wants;

and that, at a future time, their abundance may supply your wants; that there may be equality,

as it is written: He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little did not lack.

being careful for this that no one shall blame us in this abundance, which is ministered by us;

For I know your readiness of mind, on account of which I boasted of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago: and your zeal has incited very many.

But I have sent the brethren, that our boasting of you in this respect may not be in vain; that you may be ready, as I said:

Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go before to you, and make ready beforehand your bounty, which has been so much talked of before, that this might be ready as a bounty, and not as a gift extorted from you.

But remember this, that he who sows sparingly, shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully, shall also reap bountifully.

And God is able to confer every gift upon you abundantly, that you, always having all sufficiency in every thing, may have enough for every good work;

Now, he that furnishes seed to the sower will both furnish bread for food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;

that you may be enriched in every thing, for all liberality which produces through us thanksgiving to God;

and in their prayer for you, since they have strong affection for you on account of the eminent grace of God that is in you.

I, indeed, beseech you, that I may not, when present, be bold with that confidence with which I think I shall be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

overthrowing reasonings and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and leading captive every thought to the obedience of the Christ,

Do you look on things according to the outward appearance? If any one trusts in himself, that he is Christ s, let him again reason thus of himself: that as he is Christ s, so also are we.

that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

Let such a one conclude thus that such as we are in word, by letters, while absent, such also will we be in deed, when present.

not boasting ourselves in the labors of others in regions not measured off to us, but having hope that, when your faith is increased, we shall be magnified among you abundantly, according to our line,

But let him that boasts, boast in the Lord:

for he that commends himself is not approved; but he whom the Lord commends.

for I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you a chaste virgin to Christ.

For if he that comes should preach another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or, if you receive another Spirit, which you did not receive, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you would well bear with him.

Have I committed a sin, in making myself lowly, that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel to you without cost?

But what I am -doing I will also continue to do, that I may cut off occasion from those who desire an occasion, that in what they boast, they may be found even as we.

I say again, let no one think that I am without understanding; but if so, even as one without understanding bear with me, that I also may boast a little.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie.

I knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago; that such a one (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not: God knows;) was caught away to the third heaven.

I also know that such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knows,)

And, lest I should be too much exalted by the excellence of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I might not be too much exalted.

With regard to this, I three times entreated the Lord that it might leave me;

and he said to me: My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may abide upon me.

For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, unless in this that I did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong.

Do you think again that we offer you a defense of ourselves? We speak all these things before God in Christ, beloved, for your edification.

I have foretold, and now the second time, as if I was present, though being absent, I foretell to those who have sinned, and to all others, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

Make trial of yourselves, whether you are in the faith; put yourselves to the proof. Do you not know your own selves, that Christ Jesus is in you? unless you be without proof.

But I hope that you will know that we are not without proof.

Yet I pray to God that you may do no evil; not that we may appear as having proof, but that you may do what is good, though we be as without proof.

For this reason, I write these things, while absent, that I may not, when present, use severity, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification, and not for destruction.