For as the sufferings of Christ are abundant in my case, so my comfort is also abundant through Christ.

So I wrote as I did, for fear that, if I had come, I should have been pained by those who ought to have made me glad; for I felt sure that it was true of you all that my joy was in every case yours also.

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).

In the case of such a person the punishment which was inflicted by the majority of you is enough.

so that instead of censuring you should now forgive him and comfort him, in case the man is overwhelmed by excessive remorse.

in case Satan should take advantage of our position ??for I know his man?uvres!

You people show [i.e., by your conversions] that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us [i.e., the result of our ministry], not written with ink but with the Holy Spirit of the living God; not on stone tablets [i.e., as in the case with Moses' ministry], but on tablets of the human heart. [See Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10].

For indeed what had been glorified has not been glorified in this case, on account of the glory that surpasses [it].

but have cast from us the cloaks of unhonesty, and walk not in craftiness, neither corrupt we the word of God: but walk in open truth, and report ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

If the meaning of my preaching of the good news is veiled at all, it is so only in the case of those who are on the way to destruction.

In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep the light of the good news of the glorious Christ, the likeness of God, from dawning upon them.

We are persecuted: but are not forsaken. We are cast down: nevertheless we perish not.

cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifested in our body.

So it is death that operates in my case, but life that operates in yours.

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

For see what results that other sorrow--sorrow in accordance with God's will--has had in your case. What earnestness it produced! what explanations! what strong feeling! what alarm! what longing! what eagerness! what readiness to punish! You have proved yourselves altogether free from guilt in that matter.

And in this case I give an opinion; for this is expedient for you, who began before to act in this matter and to act willingly a year ago.

Arranging this - lest anyone, upon us, should cast blame, in this munificence which is being ministered by us;

But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you would not prove to be empty in this case, so that you may be prepared just as I was saying,

in case any Macedonians accompany me and find you are not ready ??which would make me (not to speak of yourselves) ashamed of having been so sure.

And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that in every case having always all sufficiency, ye may abound unto every good work:

For the weapons of our war are not carnal things, but things mighty in God to cast down strongholds;

You people are looking [merely] at the appearance of things [or, "You should look at what is obvious!" In either case, it suggests they were misjudging Paul's ministry]. If any person is confident within himself that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: We are just as much Christ's [servants] as he is.

If, however, I were to boast more loudly concerning the authority which the Lord gave me (not to cast you down, but to build you up), I should have no cause for shame.

For it is not the case, as it would be if we were not in the habit of coming to you, that we are exceeding our bounds! Why, we were the very first to reach you with the Good News of the Christ!

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting shall not be silenced, in my case, in the regions of Achaia.

I speak with reference to the reproach [cast on me], as though we were feeble; but wherein any man is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

So in my own case, I will most happily spend my money and myself for your sakes. If I love you much more than I love others, am I to be loved less by you?

This will be my third visit to you: every case is to be decided on the evidence of two or of three witnesses.