For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

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

I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,

But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

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

Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast.

For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.

But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has proved true as well.

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.

But as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing,

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair;

So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.

as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

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