For the reason for our boasting is this--the testimony of our own conscience that it was in holiness and with pure motives before God, and in reliance not on worldly wisdom but on the gracious help of God, that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and above all in our relations with you.

It was because I entertained this confidence that I intended to visit you before going elsewhere--so that you might receive a twofold proof of God's favour--

Did I display any vacillation or caprice in this? Or the purposes which I form--do I form them on worldly principles, now crying "Yes, yes," and now "No, no"?

For all the promises of God, whatever their number, have their confirmation in Him; and for this reason through Him also our "Amen" acknowledges their truth and promotes the glory of God through our faith.

And I write this to you in order that when I come I may not receive pain from those who ought to give me joy, confident as I am as to all of you that my joy is the joy of you all.

For in writing to you I have also this object in view--to discover by experience whether you are prepared to be obedient in every respect.

to the last-named an odor of death predictive of death, and to the others an odor of life predictive of life. And for such service as this who is competent?

Do you say that this is self-recommendation once more? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

For, in fact, that which was once resplendent in glory has no glory at all in this respect, that it pales before the glory which surpasses it.

Therefore, cherishing a hope like this, we speak without reserve, and we do not imitate Moses,

Nay, their minds were made dull; for to this very day during the reading of the book of the ancient Covenant, the same veil remains unlifted, because it is only in Christ that it is to be abolished.

Yes, to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their hearts.

Therefore, being engaged in this service and being mindful of the mercy which has been shown us, we are not cowards.

in whom the god of this present age has blinded their unbelieving minds so as to shut out the sunshine of the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God.

But we have this treasure in a fragile vase of clay, in order that the surpassing greatness of the power may be seen to belong to God, and not to originate in us.

For we, alive though we are, are continually surrendering ourselves to death for the sake of Jesus, so that in this mortal nature of ours it may also be clearly shown that Jesus lives.

For this our light and transitory burden of suffering is achieving for us a preponderating, yes, a vastly preponderating, and eternal weight of glory;

For we know that if this poor tent, our earthly house, is taken down, we have in Heaven a building which God has provided, a house not built by human hands, but eternal.

For in this one we sigh, because we long to put on over it our dwelling which comes from Heaven--

Yes, we who are in this tent certainly do sigh under our burdens, for we do not wish to lay aside that with which we are now clothed, but to put on more, so that our mortality may be absorbed in Life.

And He who formed us with this very end in view is God, who has given us His Spirit as a pledge and foretaste of that bliss.

And for this reason also we make it our ambition, whether at home or in exile, to please Him perfectly.

For we must all of us appear before Christ's judgement-seat in our true characters, in order that each may then receive an award for his actions in this life, in accordance with what he has done, whether it be good or whether it be worthless.

For the love of Christ overmasters us, the conclusion at which we have arrived being this--that One having died for all, His death was their death,

And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has appointed us to serve in the ministry of reconciliation.

We are to tell how God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not charging men's transgressions to their account, and that He has entrusted to us the Message of this reconciliation.

I do not say this to imply blame, for, as I have already said, you have such a place in our hearts that we would die with you or live with you.

For mark the effects of this very thing--your having sorrowed with a godly sorrow--what earnestness it has called forth in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing affection, what jealousy, what meting out of justice! You have completely wiped away reproach from yourselves in the matter.

For this reason we feel comforted; and--in addition to this our comfort--we have been filled with all the deeper joy at Titus's joy, because his spirit has been set at rest by you all.

They not only did this, as we had expected, but first of all in obedience to God's will they gave their own selves to the Lord and to us.

This led us to urge Titus that, as he had previously been the one who commenced the work, so he should now go and complete among you this act of beneficence also.

Yes, just as you are already very rich in faith, readiness of speech, knowledge, unwearied zeal, and in the love that is in you, implanted by us, see to it that this grace of liberal giving also flourishes in you.

I am not saying this by way of command, but to test by the standard of other men's earnestness the genuineness of your love also.

But in this matter I give you an opinion; for my doing this helps forward your own intentions, seeing that not only have you begun operations, but a year ago you already had the desire to do so.

And more than that, he is the one who was chosen by the vote of the Churches to travel with us, sharing our commission in the administration of this generous gift to promote the Lord's glory and gratify our own strong desire.

Still I send the brethren in order that in this matter our boast about you may not turn out to have been an idle one; so that, as I have said, you may be ready;

for fear that, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to say you yourselves--should be put to the blush in respect to this confidence.

For the service rendered in this sacred gift not only helps to relieve the wants of God's people, but it is also rich in its results and awakens a chorus of thanksgiving to God.

For, by the practical proof of it which you exhibit in this service, you cause God to be extolled for your fidelity to your professed adherence to the Good News of the Christ, and for the liberality of your contributions for them and for all who are in need,

Let such people take this into their reckoning, that whatever we are in word by our letters when absent, the same are we also in act when present.

Christ knows that it is true when I say that I will not be stopped from boasting of this anywhere in Greece.

For men of this stamp are sham apostles, dishonest workmen, assuming the garb of Apostles of Christ.

What I am now saying, I do not say by the Lord's command, but as a fool in his folly might, in this reckless boasting.

I know a Christian man who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows--was caught up (this man of whom I am speaking)

And I know that this man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know;

As for this, three times have I besought the Lord to rid me of him;

It is foolish of me to write all this, but you have compelled me to do so. Why, you ought to have been my vindicators; for in no respect have I been inferior to these superlatively great Apostles, even though in myself I am nothing.

You are imagining, all this time, that we are making our defense at your bar. In reality it is as in God's presence and in communion with Christ that we speak; but, dear friends, it is all with a view to your progress in goodness.

This intended visit of mine is my third visit to you. "On the evidence of two or three witnesses every charge shall be sustained."

and it is a joy to us when we are powerless, but you are strong. This we also pray for--the perfecting of your characters.

For this reason I write thus while absent, that when present I may not have to act severely in the exercise of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling down.

I went up in obedience to a revelation of God's will; and I explained to them the Good News which I proclaim among the Gentiles. To the leaders of the Church this explanation was made in private, lest by any means I should be running, or should already have run, in vain.

Yet there was danger of this through the false brethren secretly introduced into the Church, who had stolen in to spy out the freedom which is ours in Christ Jesus, in order to rob us of it.

Answer me this one question, "Is it on the ground of your obedience to the Law that you received the Spirit, or is it because, when you heard, you believed?"

(Now the promises were given to Abraham and to his seed. God did not say 'and to seeds,' as if speaking of many, but 'and to your seed,' since He spoke of only one--and this is Christ.)

Before this faith came, we Jews were perpetual prisoners under the Law, living under restraints and limitations in preparation for the faith which was soon to be revealed.

But now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor-slave.

All this is allegorical; for the women represent two Covenants. One has its origin on Mount Sinai, and bears children destined for slavery.

This is Hagar; for the name Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage together with her children.

This then is what I mean. Let your lives be guided by the Spirit, and then you will certainly not indulge the cravings of your lower natures.

And all who shall regulate their lives by this principle--may peace and mercy be given to them--and to the true Israel of God.

From this time onward let no one trouble me; for, as for me, I bear, branded on my body, the scars of Jesus as my Master.

when He made known to us the secret of His will. And this is in harmony with God's merciful purpose

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and of your love for all God's people,

high above all other government and authority and power and dominion, and every title of sovereignty used either in this Age or in the Age to come.

which were once habitual to you while you walked in the ways of this world and obeyed the Prince of the powers of the air, the spirits that are now at work in the hearts of the sons of disobedience--to you God has given Life.

For this reason I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--

To me who am less than the least of all God's people has this work been graciously entrusted--to proclaim to the Gentiles the Good News of the exhaustless wealth of Christ,

in whom we have this bold and confident access through our faith in Him.

For this reason, on bended knee I beseech the Father,

For this reason Scripture says: "He re-ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and gave gifts to men."

(Now this "re-ascended" --what does it mean but that He had first descended into the lower regions of the earth?

if at least you have heard His voice and in Him have been taught--and this is true Christian teaching--

For this reason, laying aside falsehood, every one of you should speak the truth to his fellow man; for we are, as it were, parts of one another.

For this reason it is said, "Rise, sleeper; rise from among the dead, and Christ will shed light upon you."

On this account do not prove yourselves wanting in sense, but try to understand what the Lord's will is.

because a husband is the Head of his wife as Christ also is the Head of the Church, being indeed the Saviour of this His Body.

"For this reason a man is to leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be as one."

"Honour your father and your mother" --this is the first Commandment which has a promise added to it--

For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world--the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare.

For of this I am confident, that He who has begun a good work within you will go on to perfect it in preparation for the day of Jesus Christ.

And I am justified in having this confidence about you all, because, both during my imprisonment and when I stand up in defence of the Good News or to confirm its truth, I have you in my heart, sharers as you all are in the same grace as myself.

while the others proclaim Him from motives of rivalry, and insincerely, supposing that by this they are embittering my imprisonment.

I am convinced of this, and I know that I shall remain, and shall go on working side by side with you all, to promote your progress and joy in the faith;

It is in consequence of this that God has also so highly exalted Him, and has conferred on Him the Name which is supreme above every other,

Brethren, I do not imagine that I have yet laid hold of it. But this one thing I do--forgetting everything which is past and stretching forward to what lies in front of me,

who, in the exercise of the power which He has even to subject all things to Himself, will transform this body of our humiliation until it resembles His own glorious body.

I do not refer to this through fear of privation, for (for my part)

on account of the hope treasured up for you in Heaven. Of this hope you have already heard in the Message of the truth of the Good News.

For this reason we also, from the day we first received these tidings, have never ceased to pray for you and to entreat that you may be filled with a clear knowledge of His will accompanied by thorough wisdom and discernment in spiritual things;

to whom it was His will to make known how vast a wealth of glory for the Gentile world is implied in this truth--the truth that 'Christ is in you, the hope of glory.'

To this end, like an earnest wrestler, I exert all my strength in reliance upon the power of Him who is mightily at work within me.

I say this to prevent your being misled by any one's plausible sophistry.

"Do not handle this;" "Do not taste that;" "Do not touch that other thing" --

And for this very purpose I send him to you that you may know how we are faring; and that he may cheer your hearts.

And when this Letter has been read among you, let it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans, and you in turn must read the one I am sending to Laodicea.

I Paul add with my own hand this final greeting. Be mindful of me in my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

And for this further reason we render unceasing thanks to God, that when you received God's Message from our lips, it was as no mere message from men that you embraced it, but as--what it really is--God's Message, which also does its work in the hearts of you who believe.

On this account we wanted to come to you--at least I Paul wanted again and again to do so--but Satan hindered us.

For even when we were with you, we forewarned you, saying, "We are soon to suffer affliction;" and this actually happened, as you well know.