Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:

He delivered us from so deadly a peril, and he will deliver us; on him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

You also must help us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand; and I hope you will understand fully,

so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

so that when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

What agreement 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 among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.

And I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

For I testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, they gave of their own free will,

And they did not do as we expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

and not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will.

The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will multiply the harvest of your righteousness.

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

Because of the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in your confession of the gospel of Christ, and by the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others;

Let such people realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has apportioned to us, a field that reaches even to you.

And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

And what I am doing, I will also continue to do, in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things of which they boast.

Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their deeds.

Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

I must go on boasting, though there is nothing to be gained by it; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.

Though if I should boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children.

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?

I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will have to mourn over many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and lewdness which they have practiced.

I warned those who sinned in the past and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present the second time, that if I come again I will not spare them

I trust that you will realize that we have not failed the test.

Finally, brethren, farewell. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.