Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, ¹  we try to persuade ²  people, ³  but we are well known ⁴  to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.

For indeed, what had been glorious now ¹  has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it. ² 

Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose ¹  is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. ² 

But their minds were closed. ¹  For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. ²  It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. ³ 

For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, ¹  but just as everything we said to you was true, ²  so our boasting to Titus about you ³  has proved true as well.

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

I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.

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.

And I wrote this very thing to you, ¹  so that when I came ²  I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours.

So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf ¹  before God.

For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” ¹  is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge ²  of God in the face of Christ. ³ 

But I am sending ¹  these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready ²  just as I kept telling them.

I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison ¹  to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

Finally, brothers and sisters, ¹  rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, ¹  we do not become discouraged. ² 

For it is not necessary ¹  for me to write you about this service ²  to the saints,

You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, ¹  which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,

We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, ¹  whenever your obedience is complete.

If I must boast, ¹  I will boast about the things that show my weakness. ² 

But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession ¹  in Christ ²  and who makes known ³  through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place.