I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you! ¹ 

I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. ¹ 

Apart from other things, ¹  there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern ²  for all the churches.

For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

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!

For we do not write you anything other than what ¹  you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely ² 

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we? ¹ 

Nor do we boast beyond certain limits ¹  in the work ²  done by others, but we hope ³  that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded ⁴  among you according to our limits, ⁵ 

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.

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.

to the latter an odor ¹  from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? ² 

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 

¹  Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

who comforts us in all our troubles ¹  so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble ²  with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

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.

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

Since many ¹  are boasting according to human standards, ²  I too will boast.

At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, ¹  so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality,

If there is any question ¹  about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers ²  of the churches, a glory to Christ.