<t /><p class="bodytext">For our reason for confidence<n id="1" /> is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives<n id="2" /> and sincerity which are from God<n id="3" /> &#8211; not by human wisdom<n id="4" /> but by the grace of God &#8211; we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more<n id="5" /> toward you.

Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I?<n id="1" /> Or do I make my plans<n id="2" /> according to mere human standards<n id="3" /> so that I would be saying<n id="4" /> both &#8220;Yes, yes&#8221; and &#8220;No, no&#8221; at the same time?

And I wrote this very thing to you,<n id="1" /> so that when I came<n id="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.

among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe<n id="1" /> so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel<n id="2" /> of Christ,<n id="3" /> who is the image of God.

For even if I made you sad<n id="1" /> by my letter,<n id="2" /> I do not regret having written it<n id="3" /> (even though I did regret it,<n id="4" /> for<n id="5" /> I see that my letter made you sad,<n id="6" /> though only for a short time).

For see what this very thing, this sadness<n id="1" /> as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves,<n id="2" /> what indignation,<n id="3" /> what alarm, what longing, what deep concern,<n id="4" /> what punishment!<n id="5" /> In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

But as you excel<n id="1" /> in everything &#8211; in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you<n id="2" /> &#8211; make sure that you excel<n id="3" /> in this act of kindness<n id="4" /> too.

In addition,<n id="1" /> this brother<n id="2" /> has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift<n id="3" /> to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help.<n id="4" />

Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution<n id="1" /> you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift<n id="2" /> and not as something you feel forced to do.<n id="3" />

Through the evidence<n id="1" /> of this service<n id="2" /> they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing<n id="3" /> with them and with everyone.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.

For how<n id="1" /> were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!

Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have<n id="1" /> to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.