Because, even as the sufferings of the Christ abound towards us, so through the Christ does our encouragement also abound.

(and our hope for you is sure;) or whether we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement and salvation: knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the encouragement.

For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, as to our tribulation which happened to us in Asia, that we were excessively pressed beyond our power, so as to despair even of living.

even as also ye have recognised us in part, that we are your boast, even as ye are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

For to this end also I have written, that I might know, by putting you to the test, if as to everything ye are obedient.

For we do not, as the many, make a trade of the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, before God, we speak in Christ.

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or do we need, as some, commendatory letters to you, or commendatory from you?

not that we are competent of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our competency is of God;

who has also made us competent, as ministers of the new covenant; not of letter, but of spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit quickens.

and not according as Moses put a veil on his own face, so that the children of Israel should not fix their eyes on the end of that annulled.

But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit.

Therefore, having this ministry, as we have had mercy shewn us, we faint not.

We are ambassadors therefore for Christ, God as it were beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God.

But as fellow-workmen, we also beseech that ye receive not the grace of God in vain:

but in everything commending ourselves as God's ministers, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in straits,

through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report: as deceivers, and true;

as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as disciplined, and not put to death;

as grieved, but always rejoicing; as poor, but enriching many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

but for an answering recompense, (I speak as to children,) let your heart also expand itself.

and what agreement of God's temple with idols? for ye are the living God's temple; according as God has said, I will dwell among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people.

and not by his coming only, but also through the encouragement with which he was encouraged as to you; relating to us your ardent desire, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I the more rejoiced.

Because if I boasted to him anything about you, I have not been put to shame; but as we have spoken to you all things in truth, so also our boasting to Titus has been the truth;

I rejoice that in everything I am confident as to you.

And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.

So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;

but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.

I do not speak as commanding it, but through the zeal of others, and proving the genuineness of your love.

But now also complete the doing of it; so that as there was the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have.

According as it is written, He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little was nothing short.

and not only so, but is also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and a witness of our readiness;

And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be of diligent zeal in many things, and now more diligently zealous through the great confidence he has as to you.

Whether as regards Titus, he is my companion and fellow-labourer in your behalf; or our brethren, they are deputed messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory.

For I know your readiness, which I boast of as respects you to Macedonians, that Achaia is prepared since a year ago, and the zeal reported of you has stimulated the mass of the brethren.

But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made void in this respect, in order that, as I have said, ye may be prepared;

I thought it necessary therefore to beg the brethren that they would come to you, and complete beforehand your fore-announced blessing, that this may be ready thus as blessing, and not as got out of you.

each according as he is purposed in his heart; not grievingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

according as it is written, He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness remains for ever.

But I myself, Paul, entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of the Christ, who, as to appearance, when present am mean among you, but absent am bold towards you;

but I beseech that present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I think to be daring towards some who think of us as walking according to flesh.

Do ye look at what concerns appearance? If any one has confidence in himself that he is of Christ, let him think this again in himself, that even as he is of Christ, so also are we.

that I may not seem as if I was frightening you by letters:

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

For we do not, as not reaching to you, overstretch ourselves, (for we have come to you also in the glad tidings of the Christ;)

For I am jealous as to you with a jealousy which is of God; for I have espoused you unto one man, to present you a chaste virgin to Christ.

But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craft, so your thoughts should be corrupted from simplicity as to the Christ.

The truth of Christ is in me that this boasting shall not be stopped as to me in the regions of Achaia.

But what I do, I will also do, that I may cut off the opportunity of those wishing for an opportunity, that wherein they boast they may be found even as we.

It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Again I say, Let not any one think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me then even as a fool, that I also may boast myself some little.

What I speak I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in folly, in this confidence of boasting.

I speak as to dishonour, as though we had been weak; but wherein any one is daring, (I speak in folly,) I also am daring.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as being beside myself) I above measure so; in labours exceedingly abundant, in stripes to excess, in prisons exceedingly abundant, in deaths oft.

For if I shall desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think as to me above what he sees me to be, or whatever he may hear of me.

For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that I be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest there might be strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;

lest my God should humble me as to you when I come again, and that I shall grieve over many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented as to the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have practised.

I have declared beforehand, and I say beforehand as present the second time, and now absent, to those that have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare.

But we pray to God that ye may do nothing evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do what is right, and we be as reprobates.