That

Confident of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might receive a double blessing.

I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.

I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be grieved by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy.

I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be grieved by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy.

So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

…in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

To the one we are an odor that brings death, to the other a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?

To the one we are an odor that brings death, to the other a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?

It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.

Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,

Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.

For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!

Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

…knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow, to the glory of God.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow, to the glory of God.

For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

…that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.

It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained.

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.

I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.

…and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it—for I see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time—

…yet now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.

And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

I rejoice that I can have complete confidence in you.

Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.

For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.

It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality.

More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.

But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.

I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.

You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.

You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.

Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.

We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.

We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.

Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well,

…so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Then we will not be boasting in the work already done in another man’s territory.

I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.

To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.

And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—

…was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.

Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.

For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

…since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?

And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.

Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.

…to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,

I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.

I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.