I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. ¹ 

And we are sending ¹  along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. ² 

for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, ¹  but are made powerful by God ²  for tearing down strongholds. ³  We tear down arguments ⁴ 

For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

And even if I am unskilled ¹  in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way.

What I am saying with this boastful confidence ¹  I do not say the way the Lord would. ²  Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

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

But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!

For we do not write you anything other than what ¹  you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely ² 

For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, ¹  but we are speaking in Christ before ²  God as persons of sincerity, ³  as persons sent from God.

who made us adequate ¹  to be servants of a new covenant ²  not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites ¹  from staring ²  at the result ³  of the glory that was made ineffective. ⁴ 

We are not trying to commend ¹  ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, ²  so that you may be able to answer those who take pride ³  in outward appearance ⁴  and not in what is in the heart.

I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before ¹  that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you. ² 

So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you ¹  made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give,

For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

because the service of this ministry is not only providing for ¹  the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.

But we will not boast beyond certain limits, ¹  but will confine our boasting ²  according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, ³  that reaches even as far as you.

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 

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine ¹  will not be stopped ²  in the regions of Achaia.