For this is our confidence: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God’s grace.

I planned with this confidence to come to you first, so you could have a double benefit,

So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” simultaneously?

In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.

I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours.

As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.

I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything.

To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. And who is competent for this?

We have this kind of confidence toward God through Christ.

In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious now by comparison because of the glory that surpasses it.

but their minds were closed. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ.

Even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts,

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.

Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up.

In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to increase to God’s glory.

Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring to put on our dwelling from heaven,

Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died.

I don’t say this to condemn you, for I have already said that you are in our hearts, to live together and to die together.

For consider how much diligence this very thing—this grieving as God wills—has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure in this matter.

For this reason we have been comforted.

In addition to our comfort, we rejoiced even more over the joy Titus had, because his spirit was refreshed by all of you.

So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you.

Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us—excel also in this grace.

I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.

Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.

And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us.

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

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God.

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.

Look at what is obvious. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we.

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

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

What I say in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but foolishly.

I say this to our shame: We have been weak.

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:

I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, God knows—

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

Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.

So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

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.

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

In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature.

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.