You are looking at outward appearances. ¹  If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.

Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test! ¹ 

When ¹  I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. ²  I ³  kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, ¹ 

Have you been thinking all this time ¹  that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up. ² 

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 

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 

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,

I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone, ¹ 

Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away ¹  from the body and at home with the Lord.

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea ¹  through us. We plead with you ²  on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

We are experiencing trouble on every side, ¹  but are not crushed; we are perplexed, ²  but not driven to despair;

For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.

For how ¹  were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!

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.

as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God ¹  on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.

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

and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” ¹  says the All-Powerful Lord. ² 

In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us ¹  the message of reconciliation.