because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.

so that we may not be exploited ¹  by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

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

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 ¹  to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away ¹  – look, what is new ²  has come! ³ 

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 

Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance ¹  by signs and wonders and powerful deeds. ² 

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

For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including ¹  more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase ²  to the glory of God.

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

And his affection for you is much greater ¹  when he remembers the obedience of you all, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

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.

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.

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.

Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves ¹  as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions. ² 

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 

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 

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.

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