For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.

as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not "Yes and no."

For we are not, like so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? We do not need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you, do we?

not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

who also made us sufficient as servants of a New Covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel would not look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

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

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake;

For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.

We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed;

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.

What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For we are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.

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 speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

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,

I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.

Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

As it is written, "He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever."

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.

that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we did not reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,

not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

so as to proclaim the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

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

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles.

And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

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

I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you do not desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;

I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or do you not know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you??unless indeed you are disqualified.

Now we pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate.