For this reason also I wrote you: ¹  to test you to see ²  if you are obedient in everything.

But as God’s servants, ¹  we have commended ourselves in every way, ²  with great endurance, in persecutions, ³  in difficulties, in distresses,

by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, ¹  by genuine ²  love,

For even when we came into Macedonia, our body ¹  had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way – struggles from the outside, fears from within.

But we have rejected ¹  shameful hidden deeds, ²  not behaving ³  with deceptiveness ⁴  or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.

But ¹  he said to me, “My grace is enough ²  for you, for my ³  power is made perfect ⁴  in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly ⁵  about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in ⁶  me.

Now when I arrived in Troas ¹  to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened ²  a door of opportunity ³  for me,

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

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

Just as it is written, “He ¹  has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.” ² 

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness, ¹ 

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.

I have great confidence in you; I take great pride ¹  on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; ²  I am overflowing with joy in the midst of ³  all our suffering.

Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself ¹  so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed ²  the gospel of God to you free of charge?

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.

Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.

even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, ¹  so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble ²  me – so that I would not become arrogant. ³ 

For just as the sufferings ¹  of Christ ²  overflow ³  toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. ⁴