to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.