[This letter is from] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Timothy, our brother. [It is being sent] to the church of God at Corinth, with all the saints [i.e., God's holy people] who are in the entire province of Achaia [Note: This was the southern province of Greece].

who is comforting us in all our tribulation, for our being able to comfort those in any tribulation through the comfort with which we are comforted ourselves by God;

And if we are troubled, it is for your consolation and salvation, being worked out in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer; if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Ye also labouring together on our behalf, by your supplication, that, unto many persons, being due the gift of favour, unto us, through means of many, might thanks be given in our behalf.

And being certain of this, it was my purpose to come to you before, so that you might have a second grace;

So then, was I indecisive or capricious when I was [originally] planning this? Or the things I plan, do I plan in a self-serving way like a worldly man, ready to say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no” [at the same time]?

For Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the one being preached by us, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but it was yes in him.

For, if, I, grieve you, who then is he that is to gladden me, - save he who is being grieved through me;

And I said this very thing in my letter, for fear that when I came I might have sorrow from those from whom it was right for me to have joy; being certain of this, that my joy is the joy of you all.

so instead [of further rebuke, now] you should rather [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage him, to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

to keep us from being worsted by Satan, for we know what his intentions are.

Now when I came to Troas for the publication of the glad tidings of the Christ, a door also being opened to me in the Lord,

because of Christ a sweet fragrance we are to God, in those being saved, and in those being lost;

For we are not like the great number who make use of the word of God for profit: but our words are true, as from God, being said as before God in Christ.

you are my epistle, your conversion being writ in. my heart, known and read by all men:

being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.

and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face -- which was being made useless,

for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory.

Such being my hope then, I am quite frank and open ??13 not like Moses, who used to hang a veil over his face to keep the children of Israel from gazing at the last rays of a fading glory.

and are not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless,

but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ.

and we all, with unvailed face, the glory of the Lord beholding in a mirror, to the same image are being transformed, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

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

But also if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those being lost,

on every side being in tribulation, but not straitened; perplexed, but not in despair;

being persecuted, but not forsaken; being cast down, but not destroyed;

never free from the danger of being put to death like Jesus, so that in my body the life of Jesus also may be seen.

For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body [which is subject to death].

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.

Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.

For in this tent I am groaning, earnestly longing to be under the cover of my heavenly habitation; if so be that being so covered,

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

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

Now God is the One who has prepared us for this very thing [i.e., the receiving of a new body to live in]. He has [also] given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment. [Note: This refers to the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit as being a guarantee that we will receive the balance of our inheritance in the form of a new body].

Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

So we have a cheerful confidence, and we anticipate with greater delight being banished from the body and going home to the Lord.

Therefore we are truly ambitious, whether being present or absent, to be well pleasing unto him.

Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord [and understand the importance of obedience and worship], we persuade people [to be reconciled to Him]. But we are plainly known to God [He knows everything about us]; and I hope that we are plainly known also in your consciences [your God-given discernment].

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,

Therefore, if any one is in union with Christ, he is a new being! His old life has passed away; a new life has begun!

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

And being also co-laborers we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain,??2 for he says, In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you; behold, now is an acceptable time, behold, now is a day of salvation,??3 giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry may not be blamed,

To keep my ministry from being found fault with, I am trying not to put a single hindrance in anybody's way.

In a clean heart, in knowledge, in long waiting, in being kind, in the Holy Spirit, in true love,

as unknown yet recognized;
as dying and look—we live;
as being disciplined yet not killed;

As being grieved, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

For, indeed, coming into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but being troubled in every way, with fightings on the outside, and fears on the inside.

In fact, if I did pain you by that letter, I do not regret it. I did regret it when I discovered that my letter had pained you even for the time being,

For, behold, this same thing, your being grieved according to God, how much diligence it wrought in you, but what excusing of yourselves, but what indignation, but what fear, but what ardent desire, but what zeal, but what vengeance: in every way ye have proved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

So then, if also I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of him that injured, nor for the sake of him that was injured, but for the sake of our diligent zeal for you being manifested to you before God.

How while they were undergoing every sort of trouble, and were in the greatest need, they took all the greater joy in being able to give freely to the needs of others.

With earnest entreaty they begged from us the favour of being allowed to share in the service now being rendered to God's people.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that ye by his poverty might be enriched.

in this I only advise you: it being for your credit, since you have not only begun to execute it, but you were the first that form'd the design a year ago.

but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

And not only [this], but he was also chosen by the churches [as] our traveling companion together with this gift that is being administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and [to show] our readiness [to help].

[We are] trying to avoid this, lest anyone should find fault with us in this abundant gift that is being administered by us.

I aim at being above reproach not only from God but also from men.

and we sent with them our brother, whom we proved in many things many times being diligent, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward you,

Therefore, show these men, in the sight of the churches, the proof of your love and our reason for being proud of you.

As to the services which are being rendered to God's people, it is really unnecessary for me to write to you.

But I have sent the brothers [See 8:18, 22], so that our boasting about you being prepared will not prove to be empty words.

otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of yourselves—will be humiliated for being so confident.

Therefore I think it necessary to urge the Brothers to go to you in advance, and to complete the arrangements for the gift, which you have already promised, so that it may be ready, as a gift, before I come, and not look as if it were being given under pressure.

and God is able to make every charitable gift redound to your advantage; that being always sufficiently supply'd in every thing, you may excel in every good work:

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

and I beseech you, that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;

For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards,

and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.

This one -- let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, we are in deed.

not boasting of things unmeasured in the labors of others, but having a hope, your faith being increased, that we shall be magnified among you according to our rule abundantly,

I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!

I robbed other churches, having received support for your ministry, and being present with you and being destitute, I burdened no one;

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

But I will persist in the same line of conduct in order to cut the ground from under the feet of those who desire an opportunity of getting themselves recognized as being on a level with us in the matters about which they boast.

For such the falsely sent, crafty workers, being transformed into the sent of Christ.

To return to what I was saying. Let no one suppose that I am foolish. Or if you must, at any rate make allowance for me as being foolish, in order that I, as well as they, may boast a little.

For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves .

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.

Who is weak without me being weak, too? Who is caused to stumble without me becoming indignant?

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one being blessed forever, knows that I lie not.

In Damascus the governor under king Aretas, kept the city of the Damascenes with a guard, being determined to apprehend me.

And being let down in a basket from the wall through a window, I got free from his hands.

I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God hath known -- such an one being caught away unto the third heaven;

And I know that this man?? do not know whether it was in the body or out of it, God knows??4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard things that must not be told, which no human being can repeat.

God knows--was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable things which no human being is permitted to repeat.

I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings.

For if I desire to boast, I shall not be foolish. For I will speak the truth. But I spare, lest anyone should think of me as being beyond what he sees me, or hears of me;

Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself!

So I take pleasure in being feeble, in unkind words, in needs, in cruel attacks, in troubles, on account of Christ: for when I am feeble, then am I strong.

Truly, I endured [opposition] patiently, while showing evidence of being an apostle among you. I performed [supernatural] signs, and wonders and powerful miracles.

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

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

For we [apostles] have no power [to act] against the truth, but [only] for the truth. [Note: Paul here alludes to his gifts and ministry being intended only to promote what was right according to God's truth].

Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.