For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we conducted ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit;

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

And I wrote this very thing, so that, when I came, I would not have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.

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

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

For truly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.

But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away.

But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.

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

in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, to prevent the light shining from the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

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

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

For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.

I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live together.

For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance. In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.

begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

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

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

But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love from us that is in you, see that you also abound in this grace.

I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

Not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.

But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,

so that I won't by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confidence.

Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through many thanksgivings to God;

seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;

Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.

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

Even though I am unskilled in speech, I am not unskilled in knowledge. But in every way we have made this known to you in all things.

As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

That which I speak, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the churches, unless it is 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 what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ; and all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

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

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

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