Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:

To God’s church at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.

And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort.

He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and He will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again

Now we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely—

For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?

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

For if what was fading away was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious.

We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you.

since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed.

And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:

I will dwell among them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be My people.

Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.

I will be a Father to you,
and you will be sons and daughters to Me,
says the Lord Almighty.

and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will.

Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.

Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service.

And they will have deep affection for you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

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.

Such a person should consider this: What we are in the words of our letters when absent, we will be in actions when present.

We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned to us, which reaches even to you.

We are not bragging beyond measure about other people’s labors. But we have the hope that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged,

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.

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

But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.

So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.

Since many boast in an unspiritual way, I will also boast.

If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.

Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me,

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

Now I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

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

For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want; there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity they practiced.

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient,

In fact, He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God’s power. For we also are weak in Him, yet toward you we will live with Him by God’s power.

And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test.

This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.