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

For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in him; therefore also through him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God.

Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me,

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 do so because we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.

For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison

Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord –

Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed;

But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.

Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia,

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

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

I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.

And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel.

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

For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints,

for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments

In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to arrest me,