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.

Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you.

For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.

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.

And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want a chance to be regarded as our equals in the things they boast about.

Now as a fair exchange – I speak as to my children – open wide your hearts to us also.

If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.

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.

I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.

For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.

Now I, Paul, appeal to you personally by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am meek when present among you, but am full of courage toward you when away!) –

For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.

But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.