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?

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.

yet I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother there; but taking my leave of them, I went away into Macedonia.

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.

And such confidence have we through Christ towards God:

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:

But to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

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

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

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.

by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, with the armour of righteousness on the right and on the left; through honor and dishonor,

through evil report and good report;

and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, "I will dwell in them, and I will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

how in a great trial of affliction, their abundant chearfulness and their deep poverty, hath munificently shewn the riches of their bounty.

For to their power, I bear them witness, yea and beyond their power, they contributed of their own accord:

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 if there be first a willing mind, any me is accepted according to what he hath, not according to what he hath not.

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:

And we have sent along with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches:

If then there be any inquiry about Titus, he is my collegue and fellow-laborer among you: and if our brethren be inquired after, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

being in every thing enriched to all liberality, which produceth through us thanksgiving to God.

For the ministration of this service not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also, through many thanksgivings, to the glory of God.

And in their prayer for you, who long after you because of the transcendent grace of God towards you.

(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the demolishing of bulwarks:)

It is therefore no great thing, if his ministers also be transformed into ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

I speak of their reproaches, as if we were weak: but whereinsoever any one may be confident (though I speak foolishly) I may be confident too.

and I was let down by the wall through a window in a basket, and so escaped his hands.

And least I should be too much lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, least I should be too much elevated.

For I am afraid least when I come, I should not find you such as I could wish, and I should be found to you such as ye would not: least there should be contentions, emulations, animosities, strifes, thwartings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: and least,

This, I say, is the third time I am coming to you: and at the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.