8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,¹ of ^mthe affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us ⁿrely not on ourselves ^obut on God ^pwho raises the dead. 10 ^qHe delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. ^rOn him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 ^sYou also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf ^tfor the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

12 For our boast is this, ^uthe testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity² and ^vgodly sincerity, ^wnot by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did ^xpartially understand us—that ^yon the day of our Lord Jesus ^zyou will boast of us as ^awe will boast of you.

15 Because I was sure of this, ^bI wanted to come to you first, so that you might have ^ca second ^dexperience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you ^eon my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans ^faccording to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as ^gGod is faithful, ^hour word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For ⁱthe Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, ^jSilvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but ^kin him it is always Yes. 20 For ^lall the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our ^mAmen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and ⁿhas anointed us, 22 and who has also ^oput his seal on us and ^pgiven us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.³

23 But ^qI call God to witness against me—it was ^rto spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we ^slord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm ^tin your faith.

1 For I made up my mind ^unot to make another painful visit to you. 2 For ^vif I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, ^wfor I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For ^xI wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

5 Now ^yif anyone has caused pain, ^zhe has caused it not to me, but ^ain some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, ^bthis punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so ^cyou should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might ^dtest you and know ^ewhether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for ^fwe are not ignorant of his designs.

12 When ^gI came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though ^ha door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit ⁱwas not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

14 But ^jthanks be to God, who in Christ always ^kleads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads ^lthe fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among ^mthose who are being saved and among ⁿthose who are perishing, 16 ^oto one a fragrance from death to death, ^oto the other a fragrance from life to life. ^pWho is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

1 ^qAre we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, ^ras some do, ^sletters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 ^tYou yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our⁴ hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of ^uthe living God, not on ^vtablets of stone but on ^wtablets of ^xhuman hearts.⁵

4 ^ySuch is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 ^zNot that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but ^aour sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ^bministers of ^ca new covenant, not of ^dthe letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but ^ethe Spirit gives life.

7 Now if ^fthe ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory ^gthat the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in ^hthe ministry of condemnation, ⁱthe ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

12 Since we have such a hope, ^jwe are very bold, 13 not like Moses, ^kwho would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But ^ltheir minds were ^mhardened. For to this day, ⁿwhen they read ^othe old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when ^pone⁶ turns to the Lord, ^qthe veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord⁷ is the Spirit, and where ^rthe Spirit of the Lord is, there is ^sfreedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, ^tbeholding ^uthe glory of the Lord,^{8 v}are being transformed into the same image ^wfrom one degree of glory to another.⁹ For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

1 Therefore, having ^xthis ministry ^yby the mercy of God,¹⁰ we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced ^zdisgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice¹¹ cunning or ^ato tamper with God’s word, but ^bby the open statement of the truth ^cwe would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even ^dif our gospel is veiled, ^eit is veiled to ^fthose who are perishing. 4 In their case ^gthe god of this world ^dhas blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing ^hthe light of ⁱthe gospel of the glory of Christ, ^jwho is the image of God. 5 For what ^kwe proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ^lourselves as your servants¹² for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, ^m“Let light shine out of darkness,” ⁿhas shone in our hearts to give ^othe light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in ^pjars of clay, ^qto show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are ^rafflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but ^snot forsaken; ^tstruck down, but not destroyed; 10 ^ualways carrying in the body the death of Jesus, ^vso that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So ^wdeath is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have ^xthe same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ^y“I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that ^zhe who raised the Lord Jesus ^awill raise us also with Jesus and ^bbring us with you into his presence. 15 For ^cit is all for your sake, so that as ^dgrace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, ^eto the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. ^fThough our outer self¹³ is wasting away, ^gour inner self ^his being renewed day by day. 17 For ⁱthis light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 ^jas we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

1 For we know that if ^kthe tent that is ^lour earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ^ma house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent ⁿwe groan, longing to ^oput on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on¹⁴ we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal ^pmay be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, ^qwho has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.¹⁵

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that ^rwhile we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for ^swe walk by faith, not ^tby sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we ^uwould rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to ^vplease him. 10 For ^wwe must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^xso that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

11 Therefore, knowing ^ythe fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But ^zwhat we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 ^aWe are not commending ourselves to you again but ^bgiving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we ^care beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ ^dcontrols us, because we have concluded this: that ^eone has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, ^fthat those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^gfor him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, ^hwe regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is ⁱin Christ, he is ^ja new creation.^{16 k}The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, ^lwho through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^mthe ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling¹⁷ the world to himself, ⁿnot counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^mthe message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, ^owe are ambassadors for Christ, ^pGod making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 ^qFor our sake he made him to be sin ^rwho knew no sin, so that in him we might become ^sthe righteousness of God.

1 ^tWorking together with him, then, ^uwe appeal to you ^vnot to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

Behold, ^xnow is the ^yfavorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We ^zput no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but ^aas servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: ^bby great endurance, ^cin afflictions, ^dhardships, calamities, 5 ^ebeatings, imprisonments, ^friots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 ^gby purity, ^hknowledge, patience, kindness, ⁱthe Holy Spirit, ^jgenuine love; 7 by ^ktruthful speech, and ^lthe power of God; with ^mthe weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, ⁿthrough slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and ^oyet well known; ^pas dying, and behold, we live; ^qas punished, and yet not killed; 10 ^ras sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; ^sas poor, yet making many rich; ^tas having nothing, ^uyet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you,¹⁸ Corinthians; ^vour heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but ^wyou are restricted in your own affections. 13 ^xIn return (I speak ^yas to children) widen your hearts also.

14 ^zDo not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For ^awhat partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or ^bwhat fellowship has light with darkness? 15 ^cWhat accord has Christ with Belial?¹⁹ Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ^dwe are the temple of the living God; as God said,

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, ^jlet us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body²⁰ and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

2 ^kMake room in your hearts²¹ for us. ^lWe have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that ^myou are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with ⁿgreat boldness toward you; ^oI have great pride in you; ^pI am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5 For even ^qwhen we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—^rfighting without and fear within. 6 But ^sGod, who comforts the downcast, ^tcomforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For ^ueven if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though ^vI did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but ^wbecause you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

10 For ^xgodly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas ^yworldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, ^zwhat zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one ^awho did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore ^bwe are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit ^chas been refreshed by you all. 14 For ^dwhatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you ^ewas true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers ^fthe obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete ^gconfidence in you.

1 We want you to know, brothers,²² about the grace of God that has been ^hgiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ⁱtheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave ^jaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly ^kfor the favor²³ of taking part in ^lthe relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they ^mgave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, ⁿwe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^othis act of grace. 7 But as ^pyou excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you²⁴—^qsee that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 ^rI say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^sthough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter ^tI give my judgment: ^uthis benefits you, who ^va year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable ^waccording to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply ^xtheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, ^y“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

16 But ^zthanks be to God, ^awho put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For ^bhe not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going²⁵ to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending^{26 c}the brother who is famous among ^dall the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been ^eappointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of ^fgrace that is being ministered by us, ^gfor the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for ^hwe aim at what is honorable ⁱnot only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is ^jmy partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers²⁷ of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of ^kour boasting about you to these men.