For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction taking place in Asia, because we were burthened exceedingly, above our power, so that we despaired even of living:

For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and purity of God, not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have sojourned in the world, and especially towards you.

For we do not write other things to you, but those things which you read and know, and I hope that you will know them perfectly:

For Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the one being preached by us, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but it was yes in him.

For so many promises of God, in Him are yes; therefore indeed through him they are Amen unto the glory to God through us.

not that we domineer over your faith, but we are fellow-workers of your joy: for by faith you stand.

For if I grieve you, who indeed is the one giving me joy, except the one being grieved by me?

For out of much tribulation and anguish of heart, I wrote to you through many tears; not in order that you may be grieved, but that you may know the divine love which I have unto you exceedingly.

This punishment which for many to such a one is sufficient;

Therefore I exhort you to stir up your divine love for him:

for unto this also I wrote, in order that I may know your approval, if you are obedient in all things.

But to whom you forgive anything, I do also: for indeed whatsoever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for your sakes in the face of Christ;

in order that we may not be gobbled up by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

And having come into Troas, for the gospel of Christ, and there being a door opened unto me in the Lord,

unto the latter a savour from death unto death; but unto the former a savour from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

For we are not as many, corrupting the word of God: but as of purity, but as from God, we speak in Christ, in the presence of God.

who also rendered us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit creates life.

For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, how much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

For indeed that which was glorious, has ceased to be glorious in this respect on account of the transcendent glory.

For if that which was to be done away was through glory, much more is that which abides in glory.

But their minds were darkened. For until this day the same veil remains in the reading of the old covenant, remains, not lifted; because it is done away in Christ;

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

For we while living are always being delivered up to death for the sake of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

For all things are for your sakes, in order that the grace, overflowing with thanksgiving through many, may abound unto the glory of God.

For the light burden of our affliction, which is evanescent, is working out for us an eternal weight of glory according to hyperbole unto hyperbole;

we not looking at the things which are visible, but the things which are invisible; for the visible things are temporary, but the invisible things are eternal.

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

For in this we groan, longing to be invested with our house which is from heaven:

For indeed being in this tabernacle we groan, being burdened; not that we wish to be divested, but invested, that mortality may be swallowed up of life.

(for we walk by faith, not by sight);

For it behooves us all to appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive according to those things which he has done through the body, whether good or evil.

Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but we have been made manifest unto God; and I hope that we have indeed been made manifest in your consciences.

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we have our right minds, it is for you.

For the love of Christ constrains us; having judged this, that one died for all; then were all dead;

and he died for all, in order that those living may not live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and is risen.

(for he says, At a set time I heard you, and in the day of salvation I assisted you; behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation);

Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what participation is there to righteousness and unrighteousness? or what fellowship has light unto darkness?

And what harmony has the temple of God with idols? for we are the temple of the living God; as God said; I will live in them, and walk about among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

and I will be to you for a Father, and you shall be unto me for sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

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

I do not speak for castigation: for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die with you and to live with you.

For we having come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but in everything being troubled; fightings without, fears within.

and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted by you, proclaiming unto us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced the more.

But if I grieved you in the letter, I do not regret it, if indeed I did regret it; for I see that, if that letter indeed grieved you for an hour,

now I rejoice, not because you grieved, but because you grieved unto repentance: for you grieved toward God, in order that you may receive damage by us in nothing.

For a godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world works out death.

For behold, how great enthusiasm, yes, how great apology, yes, how great clearing up, yes, how great fear, yes, how great longing, yes, how great zeal, yes, how great avenging, this same godly sorrow did work in you! In everything you have established yourselves to be pure in the matter.

And the affections of him, remembering the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling, are the more abundantly towards you.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, being rich, for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be made rich.

And herein I give my judgement: for this is profitable to you, who not only began to do, but to be anxious, a year ago:

For if there is first a willing mind, it is acceptable according to what one may have, and not according to what he has not.

For it is not that there may be relief to others, affliction to you, but that it may be according to equality: at this time your abundance may correspond to their deficiency,

for we provide things honest, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also before the people.

For indeed concerning the ministry which is to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you.

For I know your promptitude, of which I am boasting to the Macedonians in your behalf, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has aroused many.

As each one has predetermined in his heart; not of reluctance, or of constraint: for God loves the hilarious giver.

Because the ministry of this free-will offering is not only supplying the deficiencies of the saints, but also superabounding through much thanksgiving to God;

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.

For walking in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh;

for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of strongholds;

For if I shall in any thing the more abundantly boast concerning our power which the Lord gave us for your edification, and not for your destruction, I will not be ashamed:

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain ones of those who recommend themselves: but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves to themselves, are not wise.

For not as not reaching unto you do we stretch ourselves, for we have advanced in the gospel of Christ even unto you:

for he that commends himself is not approved, but whom the Lord commends.

For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God: for I espoused you to one husband, to present you a pure virgin to Christ;

but I fear, lest, as the serpent beguiled Eve by his craftiness, your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ.

For if indeed one coming preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or you receive another spirit, which you did not receive, or another gospel which you did not receive, well do you bear with him.

For I consider that I am not inferior to the chief of the apostles.

I robbed other churches, having received support for your ministry, and being present with you and being destitute, I burdened no one;

for the brethren, having come from Macedonia, supplied my deficiency; and in everything I rendered myself not burdensome to you, and will so render.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no wonder; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

For cheerfully do you, being wise, bear with the foolish:

for you bear with them, if any one enslaves you, if any one devours you, if any one captures you, if any one is exalted against you, if any one smites you in the face.

that he was caught up to Paradise, and heard unutterable words, which it is impossible for a man to speak.

For if I shall wish to glory, I will not be a fool; for I speak the truth: but I fear, lest some one may consider with reference to me above what he sees me, or hears from me.

And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most delightfully I will glory the more in my infirmities, in order that the power of Christ may abide on me.

Therefore I delight in infirmities, in insults, in difficulties, in persecutions, and in tight places, for Christ's sake: for when I am without strength, then I am dynamite.

I have become a fool: you did compel me. For I ought to be commended by you: for I am not inferior to the very chief of the apostles, if indeed I am nothing.

For indeed the signs of the apostleship are wrought in me in all patience, in miracles and in wonders and in dynamites.

For what is that in which you are inferior to other churches, except that I did not burden you? forgive me this wrong.

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not spare: for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for the children,

But I will most delightfully spend and be spent for your souls. If the more abundantly I love you am I loved the less?

For a long time you were thinking that I am apologizing to you. We speak before God in Christ; but all things, beloved, are for your edification.

For I fear lest, having come, I may not find you as I wish, and may not be found by you as you wish; lest perhaps strife, jealousy, animosities, selfseekings, calumniations, eavesdroppings, inflations, outfallings, are among you;

For indeed he was crucified from weakness, but he lives by the power of God: for we indeed are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God unto you.

For we are not able to do any thing against the truth, but for the truth.

For we rejoice when we may be weak, and you may be strong: we are praying for even this, your perfection.

Therefore being absent I write these things, in order that being present, I may not use severity, according to the power which the Lord has given me for edification, and not for destruction.