But whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectually wrought by patient endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer; or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of the tribulation which came to us in Asia, that above measure we have been burdened beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life:

for we ourselves, in ourselves have received the sentence of death, that we should have no confidence in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.

ye also labouring together for us in prayer, that from many persons thanks may be given on our behalf for the gifts bestowed on us by many.

For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and peculiarly towards you.

For we write no other things to you than those which you know and acknowledge; and I trust also ye will acknowledge them even to the end.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us??y me and Silvanus and Timotheus??as not yea and nay, but there was yea in him;

for all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow-helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand.

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

And I have written unto you for this very purpose, that I might not, when I come to you, have sorrow from those in whom I ought to rejoice, having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

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

Now if any person hath given cause for grief, he hath not grieved me [merely], but partly all of you; that I may add no farther burden.

Sufficient for such person is that chastisement which hath been inflicted by the majority of you.

For to this end also have I written, that I may know by this proof of you if ye are obedient in all things.

But to whomsoever ye forgive any thing, so do I; and if I forgive any thing, to whom I forgive, for your sakes I do it, in the person of Jesus Christ,

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

For we are a sweet odour of Christ to God in those who are saved, and in those who perish.

To the one we are the odour of death unto death, to the other the odour of life unto life: and who is sufficient for these things?

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

Who hath made us also able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

For if the ministry of death in letters graven on stone, was attended with glory, so that the children of Israel could not keep their eyes fixed upon the countenance of Moses, because of the glory of his countenance, though [soon] evanescent;

For if the ministry of condemnation is glory, much more doth the ministry of righteousness excel in glory.

For that which was glorious hath no glory, comparatively, because of the glory which excelleth.

For if that which was abolished came in a glorious manner, much more is that which remaineth glorious.

But their understandings were darkened: for unto this day the same veil in their reading the old testament abideth unremoved; which veil is taken away by Christ.

For unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is spread over their hearts.

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

For the God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, he hath shined into our hearts, to give illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

For we who are yet alive are continually delivered up to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace, through the thanksgiving of more persons, may more abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we never faint; for though our outward man decay, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our momentary light affliction worketh for us a transcendently far more exceeding eternal weight of glory;

whilst we direct our aim not to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen are eternal.

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

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our mansion which is from heaven;

For we which are in this tabernacle, groan, being burdened; wherein we desire not to be unclothed, but clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.

But he that hath wrought us for this very thing is God, who also hath given us the earnest of the spirit.

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

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

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have an answer for those who glory in countenance, and not in heart.

For if we are transported out of ourselves, it is for God; or if we are sober-minded, it is for your sake.

For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we judge thus, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

and he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him that died for them, and rose again.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God exhorted you by us; we entreat you for Christ's sake, be ye reconciled to God.

For he hath made him, who knew no sin, to be a sin offering for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

for he saith, "In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I succoured thee." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Be not unequally yoked with infidels; for what participation hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what fellowship [is there] between light and darkness?

or what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, "I will inhabit in them, and walk about in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be for me a people."

and I will be as a father unto you, and ye shall be to me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

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

I speak not for your condemnation, for I have already said, that ye are in our hearts to die and live together.

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

and not by his coming only, but also by the consolation wherewith he had been comforted among you, declaring to us your fervent desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more.

For if I grieved you by a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that this letter made you sorry, though but for a season.

Now I rejoice, not that ye have been made sorrowful, but that ye have sorrowed unto repentance; for ye have been made sorry in a godly manner, that ye might receive damage from us in nothing.

For sorrow of a godly sort worketh repentance unto salvation never to be repented of, but worldly sorrow worketh death.

For behold this very thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly manner, how great diligence did it produce in you! yea, what apologizing! yea, what indignation! yea, what fear! yea, what earnest desire! yea, what zeal! yea, what vengeance! In every step ye have approved yourselves as pure in this affair.

And indeed though I wrote unto you, I did it not [merely] for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause who had suffered the injury, but that our diligent attention for you might be more abundantly manifested to you in the presence of God.

For if I have boasted of you to him in any thing, I am not ashamed; but as we have spoken all things to you in truth, so our boasting of you to Titus hath been found truth.

And his bowels more abundantly yearn over you, when he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

For unto their power, I bear them witness, and above their power, they were voluntarily ready [to give]:

with much entreaty praying us that we would receive the gift, and [undertake] the communication of the contribution for the saints.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor though he was rich, that ye by his poverty should be made rich.

And in this I give my opinion: for this is expedient for you, who have before begun not only to do, but also to be willing a year ago.

For if there is first a ready mind, a man is acceptable according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not.

For I mean not that there should be ease for others and a burden on you;

but that according to equality, your abundance on the present occasion should afford a supply for their deficiency, that their abundance also may supply your deficiency, that there may be equality.

But thanks be to God, who put the same solicitude for you into the heart of Titus.

For he received in deed the exhortation, but being more diligent, of his own ready mind he went unto you.

providing what is fair, not only before the Lord, but also before men.

NOW concerning the contribution for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.

For I know your readiness of mind, for which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia had made preparation a year ago; and your zeal hath stirred up very many.

Let every man, as he hath purposed in heart, give, not with reluctance 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."

Now he that supplieth seed to the sower, shall also supply bread for food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

For the ministration of this [charitable] service not only abundantly supplies the deficiencies of the saints, but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God;

(while by the evidence of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberality towards them, and towards all men;)

and with their prayers for you, greatly longing after you, on account of the transcendent grace of God in you.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift.

For though we walk in the flesh, we war not after the flesh:

for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the casting down the strong holds [of corruption];

Yea, and if I should boast somewhat more highly of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for your edification, and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed;

For his letters indeed, say they, are weighty and forcible, but his bodily presence is feeble, and his speech contemptible.

For we will not presume to put ourselves on the level, or compare ourselves with some who vaunt themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, have no understanding.

But we will not glory in things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath marked out for us?? measure that hath reached even unto you.

For we stretch not our pretensions beyond bounds, as though we reached not unto you; for we have advanced even unto you in the gospel of Christ:

not boasting ourselves unmeasurably in other men's labours; but having hope that when your faith is increased, we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule for more abundant usefulness,

to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to arrogate glory in another man's line for things already prepared.

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

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, to present you a chaste virgin to Christ.

But I fear lest as the serpent beguiled Eve by his craftiness, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which belongs to Christ.

For if he indeed that cometh preach another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not embraced, ye might well bear with him.

For I reckon myself to be nothing inferior to the very chief of the apostles.

For though I may be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but on every occasion we have been made manifest in all things among you.

And when I was with you, and in want, I was burdensome to no man; for my want the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied; and on every occasion I have kept myself from being burdensome, and will keep myself.

For such are fake apostles, deceitful labourers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

And no marvel! For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

For ye bear with fools easily when you are wise yourselves.

For ye bear if a man enslave you, if a man eat you up, if a man receive from you, if a man is insolent, if a man smite you on the face.