Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.

and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.

For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you,

For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.

Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!