For this is our rejoicing; the testimony of our conscience that in purity and godly sincerity, not with a carnal wisdom, but with a divine grace, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and most abundantly towards you.

And in this confidence I wished to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit,

Wishing this therefore, did I use lightness? or what I wish do I wish according to the flesh, that with me there may be the yes, yes, and the no, no?

But I determined this with myself, not to come again to you in sorrow;

Sufficient for such a one is this rebuke by many;

for I wrote for this purpose, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.

For that which was made glorious was not glorious in this respect, on account of the surpassing glory.

Having therefore this hope we use great boldness,

but their minds were blinded. For to this day in reading the old covenant the same vail remains, not taken away because it is taken away in Christ;

but to this day when Moses is read a vail lies upon their minds;

Therefore, having this ministry, as we have obtained mercy we faint not,

in whom the god of this life has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God, may not shine.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us,

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle was destroyed, we have an edifice from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we also groan, earnestly desiring to put on our dwelling which is from heaven,

For being in this tabernacle we groan, being burdened, because we do not wish to put it off, but to put on [the other], that the mortal may be swallowed up by life.

And he that has made us for this is God, who has given us the pledge of the Spirit.

For the love of Christ constrains us, judging this, that if one died for all then were all dead;

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

For behold, this same thing, that you grieved in a godly manner, how great diligence it produced in you, what a defense, what indignation, what fear, what desire, what zeal, what a punishment! In every thing you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

On this account we were comforted. And in addition to our comfort, we rejoiced more abundantly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all;

so that we requested Titus, as he before began, that he would complete also this charity with you.

But as you abound in every thing, in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us, [we desire] that you may abound in this grace also.

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.

But thanks be to God, who put this care for you into the heart of Titus,

and not only so, but he has also been chosen by the churches as our travelling companion in this charity ministered by us for the glory of the same Lord and our promptitude,

guarding against this, that no one may blame us in this abundance administered by us;

But I sent the brothers, that our boasting of you may not be in vain in this respect, as I said you were prepared,

lest if the Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to say you, should be ashamed of this confidence.

And [consider] this, He that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he that sows liberally shall reap also liberally.

For the performance of this service not only supplies the need of the saints, but also abounds with the thanksgivings of many to God;

[they] glorifying God on account of the proof of this ministry for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ and the liberality of the contribution to them and to all,

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting in respect to myself shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.

What I say, I do not say according to the Lord, but as it were in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

For this I besought the Lord thrice that it might leave me.

For what is there in which you were inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.

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

For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong; and we desire this, your perfection.

For this reason, being absent, I write these things, that I may not use sharpness when present, with the power which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling down.