Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, through the will of God, and Timothy the brother, - unto the assembly of God which is in Corinth, together with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation; who comforteth us in all our affliction,

Who encourageth us in all our tribulation, to the end we may be able to encourage them who are in any tribulation - through means of the encouragement wherewith we, ourselves, are encouraged by God.

But, we ourselves, within ourselves, have had the sentence of death, that we might not rest our confidence upon ourselves, but upon God, who raiseth the dead,

Who, out of so great a death, rescued us, and will rescue, - unto whom we have turned our hope, that, even yet, he will rescue:

And of you who help together by supplication for us (a gift for us from many persons, because of many), so that there may be gratitude about you.

For, the Son of God, Christ Jesus - who, among you, through us, was proclaimed, - through me, and Silvanus, and Timothy, became not Yea and Nay, - but Yea, in him, hath it become;

and He who is confirming you with us into Christ, and did anoint us, is God,

Who also hath sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

not that we rule [like dictators] over your faith, but rather we work with you for [the increase of] your joy; for in your faith you stand firm [in your strong conviction that Jesus of Nazareth—the Messiah—is the Son of God, through whom we obtain eternal salvation].

For, if, I, grieve you, who then is he that is to gladden me, - save he who is being grieved through me;

And I wrote this very thing - lest, if I came, I should have, grief, from those over whom I had need to rejoice, - having confidence in you all, that, my joy, is the joy, of you all.

As to him who has been, and now is, causing pain, it is not I whom he has pained, but all of you??t least some of you (not to overstate the case).

The man to whom I refer has been sufficiently punished by the penalty inflicted by the majority of you;

Now, to whom ye forgive anything, I, also; for, I also, what I have forgiven, if, anything, I have forgiven, for your sake, in the person of Christ, have I forgiven it .

But, unto God, be thanks, who, ever, leadeth us in triumph in the Christ, and, the fragrance of the knowledge of him, maketh manifest, through us, in every place,

That, of Christ, a grateful odour, are we, unto God, - in them who are being saved, and in them who are being lost:

In these, indeed, a fragrance out of death into death, but, in those, a fragrance out of life into life. And, for these things, who is sufficient?

For we are not like the many who market God’s message for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or are we like some who need letters of commendation to you, or from you?

Who also hath made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant - not of letter, but of spirit, for, the letter, killeth, whereas, the Spirit, maketh alive.

Such being my hope then, I am quite frank and open ??13 not like Moses, who used to hang a veil over his face to keep the children of Israel from gazing at the last rays of a fading glory.

And are not just like Moses, who kept putting a veil upon his face, so that the sons of Israel should not look steadily unto the end of that which was to be done away.

But their minds were slow to learn. Indeed, to this very day, at the public reading of the Old Covenant, the same veil remains unlifted; only for those who are in union with Christ does it pass away.

And, the Lord, is, the Spirit: now, where the Spirit of one who is Lord is, there is freedom!

We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.

And, even if our glad-message is veiled, in them who are perishing, it is veiled,

In whom, the god of this age, hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, to the end they may not discern the radiance e of the glad-message of the glory of the Christ - who is the image of God.

Because, the God who said - Out of darkness, light shall shine! is he who hath shone in our hearts, in proportion to the radiance of the glorious knowledge of God, in the face of Christ.

for always are we who are living delivered up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our dying flesh,

Now since I have the same spirit of faith as he who said in the Scriptures, "I believed, and so I spoke," I too believe, and so I speak,

Knowing that, he who raised up the Lord Jesus, will raise up, us also, together with Jesus, and will present us together with you.

For we go through all things on account of you, because the greater the number to whom the grace is given, the greater is the praise to the glory of God.

And verily, we who are in the tent, do sigh, being weighed down, while yet we are not wishing to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves over, - in order that, what is mortal, may be swallowed up, by life.

Now, he that hath wrought us for this very thing, is, God, - who hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit,

Shall I then, who know this terrible judgment of the Lord, endeavour to appease men? as for God, I am approved by him, and I trust also you are convinced of my being so approved.

Not again, ourselves, do we commend unto you, but as though an occasion we were giving unto you - something to boast of, in our behalf; that ye may have something suited unto them who, in appearance, are boasting, and not in heart.

For Christ's love for us motivates us, because we have concluded that, [since] one person [i.e., Christ] died for all people, so then all people have died. [Note: This may mean simply that Christ died for all people, who were dead in their sins].

Having judged this, - that, one, in behalf of all, died, hence, they all, died; and, in behalf of all, died he, - in order that, they who live, no longer for themselves, should live, but for him who, in their behalf, died and rose again.

The all things, moreover, are of God, - who hath reconciled us unto himself, through Christ, and hath given, unto us, the reconciling ministry: -

we then are ambassadors for Christ, and 'tis God who makes you the offers by us: we pray you in the name of Christ, to make your peace with God.

Him who knew not sin, in our behalf, he made to be, sin, that we might become God's righteousness in him.

As workers together with God we urge you also, who have received God's unearned favor, do not allow it to be for nothing,

as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet -- see! -- we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed;

Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

And what agreement is there between Christ and the Evil One? or what part has one who has faith with one who has not?

And what compact has the Temple of God with idols? For *we* are the Temple of the ever-living God; as God has said, "I will dwell among them, and walk about among them; and will be their God, and it is they who shall be My people."

Receive me as one who has wronged no man, who has corrupted no man, who has defrauded no man.

But, he who encourageth them that are brought low, encouraged us, - even God, - by the presence of Titus.

So even though I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong, or because of the one who was wronged, but in order that your diligence for us might be made plain to you in the sight of God.

who tho' labouring under great trial of affliction, and extreme poverty, have notwithstanding with exceeding cheerfulness contributed very liberally: being forward of themselves to the utmost of their power,

So, [i.e., because of your enthusiastic response to this need. See verse 10], we urged Titus, who had previously begun [taking up this collection], to help you also complete this favorable work [i.e., by finalizing it].

And, a judgment, herein, do I give, - for, this, unto you, is profitable, - who, indeed, not only of the doing, but of the desiring, made for yourselves a beginning a year ago; -

but to equalize the burden, and in the present situation to have your plenty make up for what they need, so that some day their plenty may make up for what you need, and so things may be made equal??15 as the Scripture says, "The man who got much did not have too much, and the man who got little did not have too little."

even as it is written, He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little did not lack.

But thanks be to God who has inspired in the heart of Titus the same zeal on your behalf that I have.

We have sent with him the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.

And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

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.

As for Titus, remember that he is a partner of mine, and is also my associate in labors for you. As for the other brothers, remember that they are delegates from the churches, men in whom Christ is glorified.

Now it is unnecessary for me to write you about this service to God's holy people [in Jerusalem, who were in need].

Mark this; he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Everyone must give what he has made up his mind to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion; God loves a man who is glad to give.

He who ever supplies seed to the sower, and bread for the food of man, will supply and make plentous your seed, and increase the harvest springing up from your almsgiving.

Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, who causes through us thanksgiving to God.

Of many who, through the proof of this ministry, are glorifying God for your acknowledged submission unto the glad-message of the Christ, and for the liberality of the fellowship, unto them, and unto all, -

And by their prayer for you, who long after you, for the exceeding grace of God in you.

Now I Paul, myself, appeal to you by the humble-heartedness and selflessness of Christ??aul who "in your presence is humble, but bold enough when he is absent"??2 I beseech you, and I say, do not make me show my boldness, when I come in the boldness with which I think I shall show my courage against some who think that I am walking on the low level of the flesh.

I entreat, however, that, when present, I may not be bold with the assurance wherewith I think to be daring against some who account of us as though, according to flesh, we were walking, -

I am prepared to court-martial anyone who remains insubordinate, once your submission is complete.

You look at the outward appearance of things! Let any one, who is confident that he belongs to Christ, reflect, for himself, again upon the fact--that we belong to Christ no less than he does.

Let those who say this keep in mind that, what we are in word by letters when we are away, so will we be in act when we are present.

For we dare not class or compare ourselves with some who do, themselves, commend; but, they, among themselves, measuring, themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without discernment!

But we will not boast ourselves with respect to regions not measured to us; but according to the measure of the line which God, who measures, has appointed for us to reach even 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.

Meanwhile. Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.

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

If indeed some one is coming to preach another Jesus, whom I did not preach, or you are receiving a Spirit other than you once received, or another gospel which you did not accept before, you would do well to bear with me.

For I reckon that in nothing I am behind those who are in surpassing degree apostles.

When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.

I am doing and will continue to do this in order to cut away the ground from under those who wish some cause for slander; and that the ground of their boasting may appear as does mine.

For such men are false apostles; they are deceitful workers, who disguise themselves as [true] apostles of Christ.

Seeing that there are those who take credit to themselves after the flesh, I will do the same.

For you who are so wise yourselves are glad to listen to fools!

You tolerate anyone who makes you his slaves, devours what you have, takes what is yours, orders you around, or slaps your face!

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, but I burn with indignation?

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am telling the truth.

[When I was] in Damascus [Note: Paul here refers to his conversion. See Acts 9:1ff], the governor [who served] under King Aretas, was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to capture me,

I know a Christian man who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body I know not, or out of the body, I know not. God knows), was caught up??his man of whom I speak??ven into the third heaven.

who was caught up into Paradise, and heard unutterable words which no human being is permitted to utter.

I have become a fool; ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you; for I have been nothing behind those who were in surpassing degree apostles, if also I am nothing.

Granting that I have not been a burden to you, was I a clever schemer who trapped you by some trick?

Did I make gain of you through any of those whom I sent to you?

Are you thinking all this time that I am defending myself to you? It is in the very presence of God and as one who is in union with Christ that I am speaking. And it is all for building you up, beloved, for I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, when I come I shall find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me.

For I am afraid I may perhaps come and find you are not what I could wish, while you may find I am not what you could wish; I am afraid of finding quarrels, jealousy, temper, rivalry, slanders, gossiping, arrogance, and disorder ??21 afraid that when I come back to you, my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn for many who sinned some time ago and yet have never repented of the impurity, the sexual vice, and the sensuality which they have practised.

and lest when I come again my God may humble me before you, and lest I shall mourn for many those who have sinned before, and have not repented of the impurity and immorality and wantonness which they have practised.

I have said formerly, and I now forewarn you as when I was present the second time, so now when I am absent the second time, so now when I am absent, saying to those who had sinned before, and to all the rest, "If I come again, I will not spare,"

Since you want a proof of Christ who is speaking in me, he who is not feeble toward you, but powerful among you.

Finally, brethren, be joyful, secure perfection of character, take courage, be of one mind, live in peace. And then God who gives love and peace will be with you.