For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.

But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:

and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.

For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.

For our glorifying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

For we write no other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end:

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.

For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.

But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.

Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.

But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow.

For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me?

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly unto you.

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

But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven it in the presence of Christ;

that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord,

I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.

For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish;

to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.

who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:

For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth.

For if that which passeth away was with glory, much more that which remaineth is in glory.

but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ.

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

For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus'sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

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

For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:

For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.

Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

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

For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;

and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.

(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):

Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged.

Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?

And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

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

I say it not to condemn you : for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.

For even when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more.

For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it: though I did regret it (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season),

I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing.

For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

So although I wrote unto you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight of God.

Therefore we have been comforted: And in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hath been refreshed by you all.

For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.

And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

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

And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.

For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;

but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.

for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.

Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.

And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;

seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all;

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh

(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),

For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:

For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:

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

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him .

For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?

and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and'so will I keep myself .

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.

For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves .

For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive , if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.

Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not.

how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me to be , or heareth from me.

And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.