For my boast is this, to which my conscience testifies, that before the world, but especially before you, I have acted from pure motives and in sincerity before God, not depending on worldly wisdom but on God's unmerited favor.

It was because of this confidence that first I planned to visit you, to give you a double delight;

But with Him it is always "Yes," for, as many as the promises of God may be, through Him they are always "Yes." This is why our "Amen" through Him is for the glory of God when spoken by us.

This is the very thing I wrote you, that when I did come I might not be made sad by the very people who ought to make me glad, for I had confidence in you all that my gladness would be gladness to you all.

To a man like that, this censure by the majority has been sufficient punishment,

For this is why I wrote you, to see if you would stand the test, to see if you would be obedient in everything.

why should not this spiritual service be attended with much greater splendor?

Besides, their minds were made dull; for to this day that same veil remains unlifted, whenever they read the Old Covenant; because it is only through union with Christ that it is removed.

Indeed, to this very day, whenever Moses is read, a veil hangs over their hearts,

So, because I hold a place in this ministry and that because I have had God's mercy shown me, I never give up.

In their case, the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the unbelievers, to keep the glorious light of the good news of Christ, who is the likeness of God, from dawning upon them.

But I am keeping this jewel in an earthen jar, to prove that its surpassing power is God's, not mine.

For this slight and momentary sorrow continues to accumulate for me a solid and eternal glory far beyond any comparison,

For I know that if this earthly tent in which I live is taken down, I have a building in heaven which comes from God, a house not built by human hands but eternal.

For in this one I am sighing, because I long to put on, like a robe, my heavenly body, my future home,

Now it is God Himself who has put the finishing touches on me for this change, because He has given me the Spirit as the first installment of future bliss.

So from this moment on, I do not estimate anybody by the standard of outward appearances. Although I once did estimate Christ by this standard, I do not do so any longer.

This has all originated with God, for He through Christ has reconciled me to Himself and has given me the ministry of reconciliation.

For it was through Christ that God was reconciling the world to Himself instead of debiting men's offenses against them, and He has committed to me the message of this reconciliation.

I do not mean this for your condemnation, because, as I have said before, you have such a place in my heart that I would live with you or die with you.

For see what this very sorrow, suffered in accordance with the will of God, has done for you! How earnest it has made you, how concerned to clear yourselves, how indignant, how alarmed, how much it made you long to see me, how loyal to me, how determined to punish the offender! At every point you have cleared yourselves in the matter.

So, although I did write to you, it was not for the offender's sake, nor for the offended party's sake, but in the sight of God for the sake of having your enthusiasm for me made perfectly clear to you. This is why I am so comforted.

with earnest entreaty, they kept on begging me for the favor of sharing in this service that is being rendered to God's people.

so that I insisted that Titus, as he had formerly commenced it, should bring to completion this gracious contribution among you too.

Yes, just as you are growing rich in everything else, in faith, expression, knowledge, perfect enthusiasm, and the love inspired in you by us, you must see to it that you grow rich in this gracious contribution too.

I am not saying this in the spirit of a command, but I am simply trying to test the genuineness of your love by the enthusiasm of others.

Now I will give you my opinion on this matter. For this is for your interest, because you were not only the first to do anything about it, but the first to want to do so; you started it a year ago.

Not only that, but he has been selected by the churches to travel with me for this gracious contribution which is being raised by me, so that it may turn out for the glory of the Lord and a proof of my readiness to serve.

I am arranging it so that no one can blame me in the matter of this munificent fund that is being handled by me.

It is really superfluous for me to write to you about this service which is being rendered to God's people,

But I send the brothers that in this matter my boasting of you may not turn out to be an idle boasting, that you all may be ready, as I have told them you will be,

Now this is the way it is: Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly too, but whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully too.

Because the service rendered by this sacred offering is not only fully supplying the needs of God's people, but it is also running over with many thanks to God for it.

For through the test you get by doing this service you will continue praising God for your fidelity to your confession of the good news of Christ, and for the liberality of your contributions to them and all others;

For though I do still live the life of a physical human creature, I am not waging this war in accordance with physical human standards,

Such people should consider this: When I arrive for action I shall do exactly what I said I would in my letters when far away.

But the truth of Christ in me, this boasting of mine shall never be stopped in the boundaries of Greece.

But when I talk in this boastful confidence, I am not talking in accordance with the way the Lord talked, but just as a fool talks.

Yes, I know that this man -- whether in or out of the body, I do not know, but God knows --

On behalf of this man with such an experience I will boast, but on behalf of myself personally I will boast only about my weaknesses.

Three times I begged the Lord about this to make it go away and leave me,

In what respect, then, were you inferior to the rest of the churches, except for the fact that I, and I only, never received from you any financial support? Please forgive me this wrong.

Are you thinking all this time that I am defending myself to you? It is in the very presence of God and as one who is in union with Christ that I am speaking. And it is all for building you up, beloved, for I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, when I come I shall find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me.

This is my third visit to you. Any charge preferred must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

I am glad to be consciously weak, if you are really strong. This is my continual prayer, the perfecting of your characters.

This is why I am writing this while far away from you, that when I do come, I may not have to deal harshly with you in accordance with the authority which the Lord has given me, for building you up, not for tearing you down.