2 Corinthians

Shaliah New Testament Translation

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Commentary | Interlinear | English

2 Corinthians 1

(1) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy the brother, to the assembly of God that is in Corinth, with all the holy ones who are in all Achaia: (2) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and lord Jesus Christ.

(3) Blessed is the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all encouragement, (4) who encourages us in all our affliction, so that we are able to encourage those who are in any affliction, through the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. (5) Because just as the sufferings of the Christ abound toward us, so through the Christ our encouragement also abounds. (6) Whether we are afflicted, it is for your encouragement and salvation; whether we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement, which is at work in the endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. (7) And our hope for you is firm, knowing that as you are sharers of the sufferings, so also of the encouragement.

(8) For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about our affliction that happened in Asia: that we were burdened beyond all measure, beyond our power, so that we despaired even of living. (9) But we ourselves had the sentence of death in ourselves, so that we would not be trusting in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. (10) He rescued us from so great a death, and He will rescue; in Him we have hoped, that He will also still rescue. (11) While you also co-work on our behalf by your supplication, so that the gracious gift to us through many may be given thanks for by many persons on our behalf.

(12) For this is our boast: the testimony of our conscience, that we conducted ourselves in the world with the sincerity and purity of God — not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God — and more abundantly toward you. (13) For we do not write to you anything other than what you read, or even acknowledge. And I hope that you will acknowledge them to the end, (14) just as you also acknowledged us in part — that we are your boast, just as you also are ours, in the day of our lord Jesus.

(15) And in this confidence I was intending to come to you earlier, so that you might have a second grace — (16) and to pass through you into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be sent forward into Judea. (17) So when I was intending this, did I then act with fickleness? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to flesh, so that with me there is “yes, yes” and “no, no”? (18) But God is faithful: our word to you is not “yes” and “no.” (19) For the son of God, Jesus Christ, the one proclaimed among you through us — through me and Silvanus and Timothy — was not “yes” and “no”; rather, “yes” has come to be in him. (20) For however many the promises of God are, in him is the “yes”; therefore also through him is the “amen” to God, for glory through us. (21) Now the one who confirms us with you into Christ, and who anointed us, is God, (22) who also sealed us and gave the down-payment of the spirit in our hearts.

(23) But I call God as a witness upon my soul: sparing you, I did not come again to Corinth. (24) Not that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are co-workers of your joy. For by faith you stand.

2 Corinthians 2

(1) For I determined this for myself: not to come again to you in sorrow. (2) For if I cause you sorrow, who is the one who makes me glad, except the one who is made sorrowful by me? (3) And I wrote this very thing, so that when I came I might not have sorrow from those from whom I ought to rejoice, having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. (4) For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears — not so that you would be grieved, but so that you might know the love that I have more abundantly toward you.

(5) But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part — so that I may not overburden you — to all of you. (6) Sufficient for such a person is this punishment by the majority. (7) So that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive and encourage him, lest somehow such a one be swallowed up by the excessive sorrow. (8) Therefore I urge you to confirm love toward him. (9) For to this end also I wrote: to know your proof, whether you are obedient in all things. (10) But whomever you forgive anything, I also forgive. For indeed, whatever I have forgiven — if I have forgiven anything — was for your sakes, in the presence of Christ, (11) so that we might not be exploited by the Adversary. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

(12) And when I came to Troas for the gospel of the Christ, and a door was opened for me in the lord, (13) I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus, my brother. But having taken leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.

(14) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in the Christ, and makes known through us the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (15) Because we are a sweet aroma of the Christ to God, among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: (16) to the one, an aroma from death to death; to the other, an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? (17) For we are not, like the many, peddling the word of God; but as from sincerity, as from God, before God, in Christ, we speak.

2 Corinthians 3

(1) Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? (2) You are our letter, inscribed in our hearts, known and read by all people, (3) being made manifest that you are a letter of Christ, ministered by us, inscribed not with ink but with the spirit of the living God — not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of fleshly hearts.

(4) Now we have such confidence through the Christ toward God. (5) Not that we are sufficient from ourselves to reckon anything as from ourselves; rather, our sufficiency is from God, (6) who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant — not of letter, but of spirit. For the letter kills, but the spirit makes alive.

(7) But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came to be in glory, so that the sons of Israel could not gaze at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face — a glory being brought to an end — (8) how shall the ministry of the spirit not be rather in glory? (9) For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. (10) For indeed what was glorified has not been glorified in this respect, because of the surpassing glory. (11) For if that which is being brought to an end came through glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

(12) Therefore, having such hope, we use great frankness, (13) and not like Moses, who used to place a veil over his face, so that the sons of Israel would not gaze at the end of that which was being brought to an end. (14) But their minds were hardened. For until this present day, the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant, not being uncovered, because it is brought to an end in Christ. (15) But until today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart. (16) But whenever one turns to the lord, the veil is removed. (17) Now the lord is the spirit; and where the spirit of the lord is, there is freedom. (18) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the lord who is the spirit.

2 Corinthians 4

(1) Therefore, having this ministry, just as we were shown mercy, we do not lose heart. (2) But we renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God; but by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God. (3) But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing — (4) among whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the faithless, so that the illumination of the gospel of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God, might not dawn. (5) For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. (6) Because the God who said, “Out of darkness light shall shine,” shone in our hearts, for the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

(7) But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the excess of the power might be of God, and not from us — (8) being afflicted in everything, but not being cramped; being perplexed, but not being in despair; (9) being persecuted, but not being forsaken; being struck down, but not being destroyed; (10) always carrying around the putting-to-death of Jesus in the body, so that the life of Jesus also might be manifested in our body. (11) For we who live are always being delivered to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also might be manifested in our mortal flesh. (12) So death is at work in us, but life in you. (13) But having the same spirit of faith, according to what has been written, “I believed, therefore I spoke”; we also believe, therefore we also speak, (14) knowing that the one who raised the lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will present us with you. (15) For all things are for your sakes, so that grace, having abounded through the many, might make the thanksgiving abound to the glory of God.

(16) Therefore we do not lose heart; but even if our outer man is being corrupted, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. (17) For the momentary lightness of our affliction is working out for us, beyond all measure, an eternal weight of glory, (18) while we look not at the things being seen, but at the things not being seen. For the things being seen are temporary, but the things not being seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 5

(1) For we know that if our earthly house, the tent, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not made by hand, eternal in the heavens. (2) For indeed in this we groan, longing to clothe ourselves with our dwelling from heaven. (3) If indeed, having unclothed ourselves, we will not be found naked. (4) For indeed we who are in the tent groan, being burdened, because we do not wish to unclothe, but to clothe upon, so that the mortal might be swallowed up by the life. (5) Now the one who worked us out for this very thing is God, who gave us the down-payment of the spirit.

(6) Therefore, being always confident and knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the lord — (7) for we walk by faith, not by sight — (8) we are confident, and we are willing rather to be away from the body and to be at home with the lord. (9) Therefore we also aspire, whether being at home or being away, to be well-pleasing to him. (10) For it is necessary for all of us to be made manifest before the judgment-seat of the Christ, so that each one might receive the things done through the body, according to what he did, whether good or worthless.

(11) Therefore, knowing the fear of the lord, we persuade men; but we have been made manifest to God, and I hope to have been made manifest also in your consciences. (12) We are not again commending ourselves to you, but giving you an occasion of boasting about us, so that you might have it toward those who boast in appearance and not in heart. (13) For whether we were out of our mind, it was for God; or whether we are of sound mind, it is for you. (14) For the love of the Christ constrains us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all; therefore all died. (15) And he died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

(16) So from now on we know no one according to flesh; even if we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we no longer know him. (17) So if anyone is in Christ — new creation! The old things passed away; behold, new things have come to be.

(18) Now all things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: (19) namely, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and having put in us the word of reconciliation. (20) Therefore we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God is encouraging through us. We beg on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God. (21) The one who did not know sin, he made sin for us, so that we might come to be the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 6

(1) Now co-working, we also encourage you not to have received 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 the well-accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

(3) Giving no stumbling-block in anything, so that the ministry might not be blamed — (4) but in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God: in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in cramps, (5) in beatings, in imprisonments, in disorders, in labors, in sleeplessnesses, in fastings, (6) in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in holy spirit, in unhypocritical love, (7) in a word of truth, in the power of God, through the weapons of righteousness — the right and the left — (8) through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers and true, (9) as being unknown, and being recognized; as dying, and behold, we live; as being disciplined, and not being put to death; (10) as being grieved, but always rejoicing; as poor, but enriching many; as having nothing, and holding all things.

(11) Our mouth has opened toward you, Corinthians; our heart has been widened. (12) You are not being cramped in us; but you are being cramped in your affections. (13) Now in the same recompense — I speak as to children — you also be widened.

(14) Do not come to be mismatched-yoked with faithless ones. For what participation is there of righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship of light with darkness? (15) And what accord of Christ with Beliar? Or what portion for a faithful one with a faithless one? (16) And what agreement is there of a sanctuary of God with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, just as God said: “I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (17) Therefore, “Come out from their midst and be separated,” says the Lord, “and do not touch an unclean thing; and I will welcome you.” (18) “And I will be to you for a Father, and you will be to me for sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 7

(1) Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2) Make room for us; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we exploited no one. (3) I do not say this for condemnation; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to co-die and to co-live. (4) Great is my frankness toward you; great is my boasting about you. I have been filled with encouragement; I overflow with joy in all our affliction.

(5) For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were being afflicted in every way — fights outside, fears inside. (6) But God, who encourages the lowly, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus, (7) and not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement with which he was encouraged about you, reporting to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me — so that I rejoiced even more.

(8) For even if I caused you sorrow in the letter, I do not regret it; even if I did regret it — for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, even if for an hour — (9) now I rejoice, not that you were caused sorrow, but that you were caused sorrow into repentance; for you were caused sorrow according to God, so that you might be damaged in nothing by us. (10) For the sorrow according to God works repentance into salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world works out death. (11) For behold, this very thing — being caused sorrow according to God — how much diligence it worked out in you: indeed, defense, indeed, indignation, indeed, fear, indeed, longing, indeed, zeal, indeed, vindication! In everything you commended yourselves to be pure in the matter. (12) So even if I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who was wronged, but for the sake of your diligence for us being made manifest to you before God.

(13) Therefore we have been encouraged. But in addition to our encouragement, we rejoiced much more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. (14) For if I boasted anything to him about you, I was not put to shame; but just as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting about Titus became truth. (15) And his affections are more abundantly toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. (16) I rejoice that in everything I am confident about you.

2 Corinthians 8

(1) Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the assemblies of Macedonia: (2) that in much proof of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the depth of their poverty abounded into the wealth of their generosity. (3) For I testify that according to ability — and beyond ability — they were of their own accord, (4) begging us with much encouragement for the grace and the fellowship of the service for the holy ones, (5) and not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the lord and to us, by the will of God, (6) so that we encouraged Titus that, just as he previously began, so also he might complete this grace toward you. (7) But just as you abound in everything — in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in the love from us that is in you — so that you also might abound in this grace.

(8) I do not speak according to a command, but through the diligence of others, testing the genuineness of your love. (9) For you know the grace of our lord Jesus Christ: that for your sakes he became poor, though being rich, so that you, by the poverty of that one, might become rich. (10) And in this I give judgment; for this is beneficial for you, who not only began to do, but also to will, from last year. (11) Now also complete the doing, so that just as the readiness of the willing, so also the completion, from what you have. (12) For if the readiness lies before, it is well-accepted according to whatever one has, not according to whatever one does not have. (13) For not that for others there is rest, and for you affliction; but from equality — (14) at the present time your abundance for their lack, so that also their abundance might come to be for your lack, so that equality might come to be. (15) Just as it has been written: “The one with much did not have more, and the one with little did not have less.”

(16) But thanks be to God, who put the same diligence for you in the heart of Titus — (17) for he received the encouragement, but being more diligent, he went out to you of his own accord. (18) And we sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is through all the assemblies — (19) and not only, but also having been chosen by the assemblies as our co-traveler with this grace, being ministered by us, for the glory of the lord himself and our readiness — (20) avoiding this: that anyone might blame us in this generous sum being ministered by us, (21) for we take thought for good things, not only before the Lord, but also before men. (22) And we sent with them our brother, whom we tested in many things, often being diligent, but now much more diligent, with great confidence in you. (23) Whether concerning Titus — he is my partner and co-worker for you; or our brothers — apostles of assemblies, glory of Christ. (24) Therefore, showing to them, before the assemblies, the proof of your love and of our boasting about you.

2 Corinthians 9

(1) Now about the service for the holy ones, it is superfluous for me to write to you. (2) For I know your readiness, about which I boast concerning you to the Macedonians — that Achaia has been prepared since last year; and your zeal has stirred up the many. (3) But I sent the brothers, so that our boasting about you might not be made void in this matter, so that you might be prepared, just as I was saying — (4) lest somehow, if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we might be put to shame, not to say you, in this confidence. (5) Therefore I considered it necessary to encourage the brothers, so that they might go ahead to you and prepare beforehand your previously promised blessing, so that this might be ready, thus as a blessing and not as greed.

(6) Now this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows with blessings will also reap with blessings. (7) Let each one give as he has purposed in his heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (8) But God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that, having all sufficiency in everything at all times, you might abound for every good work; (9) just as it has been written: “He scattered, he gave to the poor; his righteousness remains for the age.” (10) Now the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed, and will increase the produce of your righteousness.

(11) In everything being enriched for all generosity, which works out through us thanksgiving to God; (12) for the service of this liturgy is not only filling up the lacks of the holy ones, but also abounding through many thanksgivings to God. (13) Through the proof of this service, they glorify God by the obedience of your confession to the gospel of the Christ, and by the generosity of the fellowship toward them and toward all. (14) And by their supplication for you, they long for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. (15) Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

2 Corinthians 10

(1) Now I, Paul, myself encourage you through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ, I who am lowly among you in presence, but confident toward you when absent. (2) But I beg that, when I am present, I might not have to be confident with the confidence with which I reckon to dare against some who reckon us as walking according to flesh. (3) For walking in flesh, we do not war according to flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful for God: for tearing down strongholds — tearing down reasonings (5) and every high thing being raised against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ; (6) and being ready to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

(7) Look at the things according to appearance. If anyone has been convinced in himself that he is of the Christ, let him reckon this again upon himself: that just as he is of the Christ, so also are we. (8) For if I boast somewhat more abundantly about our authority, which the lord gave for building-up and not for your tear-down, I will not be put to shame — (9) so that I might not seem as though I would frighten you through the letters. (10) Because, he says, “The letters are heavy and strong, but the arrival of the body is weak, and the speech is despised.” (11) Let such a one reckon this: that what we are in word through letters while absent, such we are also in deed while present.

(12) For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, do not understand. (13) But we will not boast beyond limits, but according to the measure of the canon which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. (14) For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you; for we reached even as far as you in the gospel of the Christ, (15) not boasting beyond limits in the labors of others, but having hope that, as your faith grows, we will be enlarged among you according to our canon unto abundance, (16) so that we might proclaim the gospel to the regions beyond you, not boasting in another’s canon, in things prepared. (17) But the one who boasts, let him boast in the lord. (18) For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the lord commends.

2 Corinthians 11

(1) O that you would bear with me a little foolishness! But indeed, you do bear with me. (2) For I am jealous for you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one man, to present a pure virgin to the Christ. (3) But I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds might be corrupted from the sincerity and the purity that are toward the Christ. (4) For if indeed the coming one proclaims another Jesus whom we did not proclaim, or you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you bear it fine. (5) For I reckon that I have fallen short in nothing of the super-apostles. (6) But even if I am untrained in speech, I am not in knowledge; rather, in everything we have made this manifest among you.

(7) Or did I commit a sin, humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you freely? (8) I robbed other assemblies, taking wages for your service. (9) And when I was present with you and in need, I was a burden to no one; for the brothers who came from Macedonia filled up my lack; and in everything I kept myself not burdensome to you, and I will keep it so. (10) The truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting will not be fenced off against me in the regions of Achaia. (11) Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! (12) But what I do, I will also do, so that I might cut off the occasion of those who want an occasion, so that in what they boast, they might be found just as we are. (13) For such ones are false-apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. (14) And no wonder; for the Adversary himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (15) It is not a great thing, therefore, if also his servants transform themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

(16) Again I say, let no one think me to be foolish; but if otherwise, at least receive me as foolish, so that I also might boast a little. (17) What I speak, I do not speak according to the lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. (18) Since many boast according to flesh, I also will boast. (19) For you gladly bear with the foolish, being wise. (20) For you bear it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone strikes you in the face. (21) To my dishonor I say, “We have been weak.” But in whatever anyone dares — I speak in foolishness — I also dare.

(22) Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they seed of Abraham? I also. (23) Are they ministers of Christ? — I speak as being frenzied — I am more: in labors more abundantly, in imprisonments more abundantly, in beatings exceedingly, in deaths often. (24) From the Judeans five times I received forty lashes minus one. (25) Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have spent in the deep. (26) In journeys often, in perils from rivers, in perils from insurgents, in perils from my own race, in perils from the nations, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils at sea, in perils among false brothers — (27) in labor and toil, in sleeplessnesses often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Apart from the things external, there is the daily pressure upon me: the anxiety of all the assemblies. (29) Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not burned?

(30) If it is necessary to boast, I will boast of the things of my weakness. (31) The God and Father of the lord Jesus knows — the one being blessed unto the ages — that I do not lie. (32) In Damascus, the ethnarch of King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes to arrest me, (33) and through a window, in a basket, I was let down through the wall, and I escaped his hands.

2 Corinthians 12

(1) Boasting is necessary — not beneficial, indeed — but I will go on to visions and revelations of the lord. (2) I know a man in Christ — fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or outside the body I do not know; God knows — such a man was caught up, as far as the third heaven. (3) And I know such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows — (4) that he was caught up into paradise and heard unutterable words, which a man is not permitted to speak. (5) On behalf of such a one I will boast; but on behalf of myself I will not boast, except in the weaknesses. (6) For if I should wish to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will tell the truth; but I refrain, lest anyone credit me beyond what he sees me or hears from me.

(7) And by the excess of the revelations — so that I might not be over-exalted — a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of the Adversary, to batter me, so that I might not be over-exalted. (8) About this, three times I pleaded with the lord, that it might depart from me. (9) And he has said to me: “My grace suffices for you; for the power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of the Christ might tabernacle upon me. (10) Therefore I am well-pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions and cramps, for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am powerful.

(11) I have become a fool — you compelled me! For I ought to have been commended by you; for I fell short in nothing of the super-apostles, even if I am nothing. (12) Indeed, the signs of the apostle were worked out among you in all endurance — in signs and wonders and powers. (13) For in what were you made inferior beyond the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

(14) Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden; for I do not seek your things, but you. For the children ought not to treasure up for the parents, but the parents for the children. (15) And I most gladly will spend and be spent out for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved less? (16) But let it be so: I did not burden you — yet, being crafty, I took you by deceit! (17) Did I exploit you through any of those whom I sent to you? (18) I urged Titus, and with him I sent the brother. Surely Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same spirit — in the same tracks?

(19) Have you been thinking all along that we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. And all things, beloved, are for your building-up. (20) For I fear lest perhaps, when I come, I might not find you as I wish, and I might be found by you as you do not wish — lest perhaps strife, jealousy, angers, rivalries, slanders, whisperings, puffings-up, disorders. (21) Lest again, when I come, my God might humble me before you, and I will mourn over many of those who have sinned before and have not repented — over the uncleanness and sexual immorality and sensuality that they practiced.

2 Corinthians 13

(1) This is the third time I am coming to you; by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be established. (2) I have said before, and I say beforehand — as present the second time and now absent — to those who have sinned before and to all the rest: if I come again, I will not spare. (3) Since you are seeking proof of the Christ speaking in me — who is not weak toward you, but is powerful in you. (4) For indeed he was crucified from weakness, but he lives from the power of God; and indeed we are weak in him, but we will live with him from the power of God toward you.

(5) Test yourselves whether you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you — unless you are unapproved? (6) But I hope that you will know that we are not unapproved. (7) But we pray to God that you do nothing harmful — not that we might appear approved, but that you might do good, even if we might be as unapproved. (8) For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but for the truth. (9) For we rejoice whenever we are weak, and you are powerful; this also we pray for: your mending. (10) For this reason I write these things while absent, so that when present I might not use severity, according to the authority that the lord gave me for building-up and not for tear-down.

(11) Finally, brothers: rejoice, be mended, be encouraged, think the same, be at peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (12) Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you. (13) The grace of the lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy spirit be with you all.