Three times I was beaten with a rod.<n id="1" /> Once I received a stoning.<n id="2" /> Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea.

but I was let down in a rope-basket<n id="1" /> through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.p>

<n id="1" /> Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

<t /><p class="bodytext">I say again, let no one think that I am a fool.<n id="1" /> But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness,<n id="1" />

But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds,<n id="1" />

who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.<n id="1" />p>

even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore,<n id="1" /> so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble<n id="2" /> me &#8211; so that I would not become arrogant.<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in,<n id="1" /> is dismantled,<n id="2" /> we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.

And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar?<n id="1" /> Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband,<n id="1" /> to present you as a pure<n id="2" /> virgin to Christ.

As a result,<n id="1" /> death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!

And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us,<n id="1" />

Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose<n id="1" /> is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.<n id="2" />

Now as a fair exchange &#8211; I speak as to my<n id="1" /> children &#8211; open wide your hearts to us<n id="2" /> also.p>

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away<n id="1" /> &#8211; look, what is new<n id="2" /> has come!<n id="3" />

Now when I arrived in Troas<n id="1" /> to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened<n id="2" /> a door of opportunity<n id="3" /> for me,

<i>and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughtersi>,&#8221;<n id="1" /> says the All-Powerful Lord.<n id="2" />p>

to the latter an odor<n id="1" /> from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?<n id="2" />