not to call upon you as I pass into Macedonia, but in my return from thence, to be conducted by you toward Judea.

Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

wherefore, I call upon you to confirm love to him,

who also made us sufficient to be ministrants of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter doth kill, and the spirit doth make alive.

But the minds of the Israelites became dull for, to this very day, the same veil remains on them [i.e., figuratively] when the Old Agreement [Scriptures] are read. It is not being revealed to them that the Old Agreement is being abolished by Christ [i.e., by His death on the cross. See Col. 2:14].

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

So whether we are at home or away from home, our goal is to be pleasing to him.

For if I did go crazy, it was for God's glory; and if I am keeping my head cool, it is for your good.

And working together also we call upon you that ye receive not in vain the grace of God --

For He says,“At the acceptable time (the time of grace) I listened to you,
And I helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—

for us to call on Titus, that even as he began before, so he would also complete this grace to you also.

And I, Paul, myself, do call upon you -- through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ -- who in presence, indeed am humble among you, and being absent, have courage toward you,

But, so that I would not become too conceited over the tremendous revelations [I received], a "thorn in the flesh" was given to me as a messenger from Satan to torment me. [Note: This "thorn" was probably some physical handicap, possibly defective eyesight. See Gal. 4:14-15; 6:11].

Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me,