For our glory is in this, in the knowledge which we have that our way of life in the world, and most of all in relation to you, has been holy and true in the eyes of God; not in the wisdom of the flesh, but in the grace of God.

Even as you have been ready, in part, to say that we are your glory, in the same way that you are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” simultaneously?

I had also written to you to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in every way.

And we have given up the secret things of shame, not walking in false ways, and not making use of the word of God with deceit; but by the revelation of what is true, as before God, we have the approval of every man's sense of right and wrong.

If the meaning of the good news I preach is covered up at all, it is so only in the case of those who are on the way to destruction.

On every side, pressed hard, but not hemmed in, without a way, but not without a by-way,

We always carry around in our [physical] bodies the [threat of] dying, as Jesus did [i.e., the apostles were constantly exposed to impending danger and death], so that the life of Jesus [i.e., His virtue, courage, faithfulness, etc.] may be demonstrated in our bodies [i.e., in the way we live] also.

But having the same spirit of faith, as it is said in the Writings, The words of my mouth came from the faith in my heart; in the same way, our words are the outcome of our faith;

For which cause we do not give way to weariness; but though our outer man is getting feebler, our inner man is made new day by day.

We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but we speak [in such a way as] to give you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can have an answer for those who take pride in [outward] appearances instead of what is in the heart.

From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way.

Therefore if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation: the old things are passed way; behold, all things are become new:

To keep my ministry from being found fault with, I am trying not to put a single hindrance in anybody's way.

but commending ourselves as servants of God in every [way], in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties,

Howbeit, by way of the like recompense - as, unto children, I speak, be enlarged, even, ye.

For, even when we came into Macedonia, no relief at all, had our flesh; but, in every way, were we in tribulation, - without, fightings! within, fears!

now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved according to [the will of] God, so that you suffered loss in no way through us.

For having sorrow in a godly way results in repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

For lo! this very thing - the being caused to grieve, according to God: - what manner of diligence it wrought out in you, - nay! defence, - nay! sore displeasure, - nay! fear, - nay! earnest desire, - nay! jealousy, - nay! avenging. In every way, ye shewed yourselves to be, chaste, in the matter.

And his love to you is the more increased by his memory of you all, how you gave way to his authority, and how you took him to your hearts with fear and honour.

It gives me great joy to see you answering to my good opinion of you in every way.

And that, not only in the way we had expected; but first they gave themselves to the Lord, and to us also, in accordance with God's will.

So we urged Titus to finish this work of kindness among you in the same way that he had started it.

but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.

I do not say this by way of command, but by the zeal of others I am trying to prove the reality of your love.

But I will tell you what I think about it. For this is the best way to deal with you, for you were the first not only to do anything about this, but to want to do anything, and that was last year.

Now finish doing it, so that your readiness to undertake it may be equaled by the way you finish it up, as well as your means permit.

For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—

that as your present sufficiency supplies their wants, their sufficiency may supply your occasions another way: and thus there will be an equality.

[We made this arrangement] to avoid anyone blaming us for the way we handled this generous gift.

With them I am sending our brother of whose zeal I have often had proof in many ways, and who is now zealous because of his great confidence in you.

Lest if in some way the Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we should be ashamed, (that we should not say, ye) in this principle of boasting.

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brothers that they would go ahead to you, and arrange in advance your gift that was earlier announced, for this to be ready this way as a gift and not as an exaction.

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

And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

For when, through this work of giving, they see what you are, they give glory to God for the way in which you have given yourselves to the good news of Christ, and for the wealth of your giving to them and to all;

I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are behaving in an unspiritual way.

For though we live in the body, we do not wage war in an unspiritual way,

For his letters, they say, have weight and are strong; but in body he is feeble, and his way of talking has little force.

But my boasting will not be extravagant, nor exceed the limits God has allowed me, which reach all the way to you.

It is no strain for me to do this, as it might be for people who had never got so far, for I was the first to come all the way to you with the good news of the Christ.

But I have a fear, that in some way, as Eve was tricked by the deceit of the snake, your minds may be turned away from their simple and holy love for Christ.

Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the “super-apostles.”

And, even if uncultured in my discourse, certainly not in my knowledge, - but, in every way, having made it manifest, in all things, unto you.

Even when I lacked the actual necessities of life while I was with you, I was a burden to no one; for whatever I lacked, the brothers from Macedonia supplied, when they came. So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

Again I say, no one should think I am foolish, but if you do, [then] accept me that way, so that I too can boast a little bit.

That I speak, I speak it not after the ways of the Lord: but as it were foolishly, while we are now come to boasting.

Since many people boast in a fleshly way, I will do it, too.

You put up with it, though they make slaves of you, live on you, seize your property, lord it over you, even strike you in the face, in the way of degradation!

By way of disparagement, am I speaking, - as though, we, had been weak! whereas, in whatsoever anyone dareth, in foolishness I speak, I also, dare: -

I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?

For I am afraid that somehow, when I come [to you], I might not find you the way I want you to be, and you might not find me the way you want me to be. I am afraid there might be quarrelling, jealousy, angry outbursts, factious spirits, slander, gossip, arrogance and [other] disturbances [there].

And that when I come again, my God may put me to shame among you, and I may have grief for those who have done wrong before and have had no regret for their unclean ways, and for the evil desires of the flesh to which they have given way.

Now we pray to God that you not do wrong in any way, not that we are seen as approved, but that you do what is good, even [though] we are [seen] as though unqualified.

I am glad to be weak if you are strong; mend your ways, that is all I ask.

Finally brothers, farewell. Be thoroughly prepared, be encouraged, think the same way, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.