Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia:

Who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any affliction, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

And our hope concerning you is stedfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the comfort.

For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of the trouble which befell us in Asia, that we were exceedingly pressed, above our strength, so that we despaired even of life.

Yea, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raiseth the dead:

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust, that he will still deliver:

You likewise helping together with us by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

For this is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more especially toward you.

As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, as ye also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

And in this confidence I was minded to come to you before, that ye might have had a second benefit, And to pass by you into Macedonia,

Now when I was thus minded, did I use levity? or the things which I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that there should be with me yea and nay?

For he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and that hath anointed us is God:

But I call God for a record on my soul, that to spare you, I came not as yet to Corinth.

Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye have stood.

For if I grieve you, who is he that cheareth me, but he that is grieved by me?

And I wrote thus to you, that I might not when I come have grief from those for whom I ought to rejoice; being persuaded concerning you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For from much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that ye might be grieved, but that ye might know the abundant love which I have toward you.

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

So that on the contrary ye should rather forgive and comfort him, lest such an one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye were obedient in all things.

For we are to God a sweet odour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think any thing as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God:

And if the ministration of death engraven in letters on stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly on the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face, which was to be abolished: Shall not rather the ministration of the Spirit be glorious?

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

For if that which is abolished was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

And not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly to the end of that which is abolished.

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

But if our gospel also is veiled, it is veiled to them that perish;

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

We who live are always delivered unto death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal body.

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

For all things are for your sakes, that the overflowing grace might through the thanksgiving of many abound to the glory of God.

While we aim not at the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen: for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened; not that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.

Now he that hath wrought us to this very thing is God, who hath also given us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore we always behave undauntedly; knowing that while we are sojourning in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive according to what he hath done in the body, whether good or evil.

We do not again recommend ourselves to you; but we give you an occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have something to answer them, who glory in appearance, and not in heart.

For the love of Christ constraineth us, while we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

And that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him who died for them, and rose again.

So that we from this time know no one after the flesh; yea, if we have known even Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their traspasses to them, and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation.

For he hath made him, who knew no sin, a sin-offering for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God through him.

Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed, But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,

I speak not, to condemn you; for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts, to live and to die with you.

But God who comforteth them that are brought low, comforted us by the coming of Titus.

And not only by his coming, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted over you, when he told us your earnest desire, your grief, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more.

For I do not repent that I grieved you by the letter, though I did repent: (for I see that letter grieved you, though but for a season.)

Now I rejoice, not that ye grieved, but that ye grieved to repentance; for ye grieved in a godly manner, so that ye received damage by us in nothing.

For behold, this very thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly manner, what diligence it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge? In all things ye have approved yourselves to be pure in this matter.

So that if I had boasted any thing of you to him, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so also our boasting to Titus is found a truth.

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

That in a great trial of affliction, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality:

That to their power, I testify, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves,

So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also compleat this gift among you.

Therefore as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

I speak not by way of command, but that by the diligence of others, I may prove the sincerity of your love.

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

Now therefore compleat the work, that as there was a ready will, so there may be also a performance, in proportion to what ye have.

For I do not mean, that others should be eased, and you burthened; But by an equality,

let your abundance be at this time a supply to their want; that their abundance also may be a supply to your want, that there may be an equality,

As it is written, He that had gathered the most, had nothing over; and he that had gathered the least, did not lack.

For I know your readiness, which I boast concerning you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you on this head should be made vain, that, as I said, ye may be ready;

Therefore I thought it necessary, to desire the brethren to go before to you, and compleat this your bounty, which had been spoken of before, that it may be ready as a bounty, and not as a matter of covetousness.

And this I say, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully:

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that having always all sufficiency in all things, ye may abound to every good work:

I beseech, that I may not when I am present be bold with that confidence wherewith I think to be bold toward some, who think of us as walking after the flesh:

Do ye look at the outward appearance of things? If any man be confident, that he is Christ's, let him again think this of himself, that as he is Christ's, so we also are Christ's.

That I may not seem to terrify you by letters.

Let such an one think this, that such as we are in word by letters, when we are absent, such are we also in deed, when we are present.

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

If indeed he that cometh preach another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another Spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

But I suppose that I fall nothing short of the very chief apostles.

Have I committed an offence in humbling myself, that ye might be exalted, because I have preached the gospel of God to you at free cost?

Because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, I will do, that I may cut off the occasion from them who desire occasion, that wherein they boast, they may be found even as we.

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; but if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I also may boast a little.

Beside the things which are from without, that which rusheth upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Since I must glory, I will glory of the things that concern my infirmities.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lie not.

Yea, I knew such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) That he was caught up into paradise,

Concerning this, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me.

For wherein were ye inferior to the other churches, unless that I myself was not burdensom to you.

Think ye that we again excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all things, beloved, for your edification.

I told you before, and do tell before-hand (though now absent, as if I were present the second time) those who had sinned before, and all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith: prove yourselves. Do ye not know yourselves? That Jesus Christ is in you? unless ye are reprobates.

And I trust, ye shall know, that we are not reprobates.

Now I pray God, that ye may do no evil: not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is good, though we should be as reprobates.