For our glorifying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

And in this confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that ye might have a second benefit;

But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow.

And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.

For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth.

but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ.

But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:

in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them .

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;

For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:

For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.

Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:

and this , not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.

But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us,'see that ye abound in this grace also.

And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;

but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness:

Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us:

But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:

lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.

But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;

seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all;

Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also are we.

Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.

That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.

Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.

Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word established.

For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down.