because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, ¹  he is coming ²  to you of his own accord. ³ 

On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.

we are persecuted, but not abandoned; ¹  we are knocked down, ²  but not destroyed,

in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, ¹  in troubles, ²  in sleepless nights, in hunger,

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. ¹ 

For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad ¹  but the one I caused to be sad?

For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing –

in hard work and toil, ¹  through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing. ² 

that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth ¹  of their generosity.

And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, ¹  so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality,