in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger,

by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love,

But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses,

I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.

in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing.

Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.

I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers,

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing –

As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Our affection for you is not restricted, but you are restricted in your affections for us.

For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.

For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards,

But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,

And even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way.

What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.

But as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you – make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.