When I therefore was thus minded, did I use levity? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea, yea, and nay, nay?

Moreover, I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I have not as yet come to Corinth.

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same who is made sorry by me?

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

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly to you.

But if any hath caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

So that on the other hand, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such one should be swallowed up with excessive sorrow.

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love towards him.

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

For we are to God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

Not that we are sufficient by ourselves to think any thing as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away;

For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

For if that which was done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

And not as Moses, who put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But if our gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

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

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our body.

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Knowing, that he who raised the Lord Jesus, will raise us also by Jesus, and will present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace may, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not because we would be unclothed, but clothed, that mortality might be swallowed up in life.

Now he that hath wrought us for this same thing is God, who also hath given to us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted by him.

For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether good or bad.

For we commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them who glory in appearance, and not in heart.

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

And that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him who died for them, and rose again.

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We then, as co-workers with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

And not by his coming only, but by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind towards me; so that I rejoiced the more.

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it was but for a season.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

For behold this very thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what avenging! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Wherefore, though I wrote to you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

That in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality.

Praying us with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Now therefore finish the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

For I mean not that other men should be eased, and you burdened:

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no want.

And not that only, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath incited very many.

Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before to you, and make up before hand your bounty, of which ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not of covetousness.

And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Now may he that ministereth seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I think to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trusteth to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

Let such one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you, according to our rule abundantly,

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God without reward?

And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will I keep myself.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them who desire occasion; that in what they glory, they may be found even as we.

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

That which I speak, I speak it not according to the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

That he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or what he heareth from me.

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

And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For what is that in which ye were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves to you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edification.

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them who heretofore have sinned, and to all others, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye are reprobates?

But I trust that ye will know that we are not reprobates.

Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we should be as reprobates.

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, to another gospel:

Which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.