For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.”

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.

But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.

as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.

And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.

I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you,

If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.

Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.

And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.

Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.

I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering.

because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them.

But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them.