But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place.

always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.

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.

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

(To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing.

since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test!

So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit.

how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?

For if what was made ineffective came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory!

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

For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling,

We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.

You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,

We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.

Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea.

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us – by me and Silvanus and Timothy – was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has always been “Yes” in him.

revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.