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

that we may be able to comfort those, that are in any trouble, by the consolation wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.

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

For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befel us in Asia, that we were exceedingly pressed above our strength, so that we despaired even of life:

but we had the sentence of death within 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 yet deliver us:

you also assisting by prayer for us, that the favor obtained for us by the prayers of many might be thankfully acknowledged by many on our account.

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

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

And in this confidence I had a mind to come to you first, (that ye might have a second benefit,) and to pass by you into Macedonia;

Now when I intended this, was I chargeable with levity? or what I purpose, do I purpose from carnal motives, that with me there should be yea, yea, and then no, no?

But the faithful God, He knows, that our word to you was not yes and no.

but He that establisheth us as well as you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us,

But I call God to witness on my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet to Corinth:

not that we are lords over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

for if I grieve you, who is it that maketh me glad, but he that is grieved by me?

And I wrote this to you, that when I come I may not have grief from those of whom I ought to receive joy, being persuaded concerning all of you, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For through much affliction and distress of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that ye might be grieved, but that ye might know the love with which I abound towards you.

And if any one hath caused grief, it hath grieved me only as to part of you, (that I may not overcharge you

So that on the contrary, ye ought rather to forgive and comfort him, least such a one should be swallowed up with excessive sorrow.

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

And to whom ye forgive any thing, I also forgive it: for if I have forgiven any thing, I forgave it him, to whom I did forgive it, for your sakes, in the person of Christ; that we might not be foiled by Satan:

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

For we are the sweet odor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, yea and in them that perish:

being manifest that ye are the epistle of Christ, through our ministration, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on tables of the heart of flesh.

not that we can of ourselves reckon upon any thing as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.

Now if the ministration of death which was in writing, and engraven on stones, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly on the face of Moses, because of the lustre of his countenance, which was to be taken away:

since what was then made glorious was not in comparison glorious, because of the glory that surpasseth it.

For if that, which was to be taken away, came with glory, much more that which abideth is glorious.

and do not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, intimating that the children of Israel could not look to the end of that which was to be abolished; but their minds were blinded:

now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

And if our gospel also be veiled, it is to those that perish;

among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, doth not shine unto them:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power might be evidently of God, and not of us:

cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifested in our body.

For we, who are yet living, are always exposed to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So that death is wrought in us, but life in you.

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

For all these things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the gratitude of many redound to the glory of God.

For we know that if our earthly house, which is but as a tent, were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For we who are in this tabernacle do groan, being burthened; wherefore we desire, not to be wholly unclothed, but to put on immortality, that the mortal part may be swallowed up in life.

Now He, that hath wrought us hereunto, is God; who hath also given us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that while we dwell in the body, we are absent from the Lord,

For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, that every one may receive for the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it were good or bad.

for we are not again recommending ourselves to you, but giving you an occasion of glorying on our account; that ye may have somewhat to answer those who glory in appearance, and not in heart.

For the love of Christ constraineth us, being fully persuaded of this, that if One died for all, then were all dead.

And He died for all, that those who live might no longer live to themselves, but to Him who died for them and rose again.

to declare, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing to them their trespasses, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

For He hath made Him, who knew no sin, to be a sin-offering for us, that in Him we might be made righteous before God.

And we co-operating with Him do also exhort you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain:

We give no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

I speak not this to condemn you: for I said before that ye are so much in our hearts that we could live and die with you.

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

and not only by his coming, but especially by the consolation wherewith he was comforted on your account, acquainting us with your earnest desire towards us, your grief, and your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced greatly.

For though I grieved you by my letter, I do not repent, though I did repent; for I perceive that that epistle grieved you, though it was but for a little while.

However, now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance; for ye were grieved after a godly manner, so that ye received no damage from us.

For behold this very thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly manner, what diligence it wrought in you! yea, what apology, what indignation, what fear, what earnest desire, what zeal, what revenge! by all which ye have shewn yourselves to be clear in the affair.

Wherefore if I wrote in such a manner to you, it was not merely on his account who had done the wrong, nor for his sake who had been injured; but that our care for you in the sight of God might be manifested among you.

I rejoice therefore that in every thing I have confidence in you.

intreating us with much importunity, that we would convey the gift, and so take upon us a part of the ministration to the saints.

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had already begun, so he would also complete this grace among you.

And as ye abound in every other grace, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.

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

Now therefore perfect also the doing it; that as there was a readiness of will, so there may be also a performance according to your ability.

For I do not mean that others should have relief, and you be burdened:

but by an equality, that your abundance may at this time be a supply to their want; and their abundance may be the like to your want, if need be: that there may be an equality:

as it is written, "He that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack."

hereby taking care that no one might blame us in the disposal of this large sum which is administered by us:

looking to things that are right not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

for I know your readiness of mind, which I boast of concerning you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath excited many.

But I have sent the brethren, that our boasting of you might not become vain in this respect, but that ye might be ready, as I had said:

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go first to you, and before our coming to collect your bounty beforementioned, that it may be ready, as of munificence, and not of force.

But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully.

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

but being absent am bold towards you, yea I intreat you, that I may not be bold, when I am present, with that confidence, wherewith I think to proceed against some, who censure us as walking after the flesh.

destroying false reasonings, and every height that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and captivating every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Do ye look at things according to the outward appearance? If any one is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again of himself, that as he is Christ's, so we also are Christ's.

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

But let such a one know this, that as we are in word by letters, when absent, such also shall we be in fact when present.

Not boasting of things beyond our limits in other men's labors; but having hope that, when your faith is increased, we shall be abundantly enlarged by you according to our line,

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

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

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

But I fear least as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the purity that is in Christ.

For if he, that cometh to you, preacheth 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 embraced, ye might indeed bear with him.

Have I committed an offence in humbling myself that ye might be exalted? and in that I have preached the gospel of God to you gratis?

And when I was present among you, and in want, I was chargeable to no one. For the brethren that came from Macedonia supplied my want: and in every thing I have kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

God knoweth. But what I do, I will do, that I may cut off occasion from those that desire an occasion of boasting or censure, that in what they boast of they may be found to do even as we do.

I say again, let no one think me foolish herein; but if they do, yet bear with my weakness, that I also may boast a little.

that which besets me daily, the care of all the churches.

And the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lye not.

I know not, God knoweth) that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unutterable words, which it is not permitted unto man to speak.

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

And He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is manifested in thy weakness." With the greatest pleasure therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For what is it that ye were inferior in to the rest of the churches, unless it be that I myself was not burdensome to you?--- Forgive me this injury.

Be it so, that I did not burden you myself, yet, may some say, being crafty I over-reached you by subtilty.

Do ye then think that we are making apologies to you? No, we speak before God in Christ: and all, my beloved, for your edification.

I said before, and I again tell you beforehand, as if I were present the second time; and being absent I now write to those who have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare:

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove yourselves: do ye not know yourselves to be such that Jesus Christ is in you? unless ye are reprovable.

But I hope ye will soon know that we are not disapproved.