We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

for he says, "At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

Therefore, "'Come out from among them, and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty."

I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live together.

so that I won't by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confident boasting.

For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

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

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