² I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold^(A) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.^(B)

¹⁰ This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh^(A) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.^(B)

² I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:^(A) On my return I will not spare^(B) those who sinned earlier^(C) or any of the others,

² in which you used to live^(A) when you followed the ways of this world^(B) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(C) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^{(D) 3} All of us also lived among them at one time,^(E) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a](F) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit,^(A) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.^{(B) 17} For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.^(C) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[a] you want.^{(D) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit,^(E) you are not under the law.^(F)

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,^(G) impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.^(H) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(I)

²² But the fruit^(J) of the Spirit is love,^(K) joy, peace,^(L) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.^(M) Against such things there is no law.^{(N) 24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(O) with its passions and desires.^{(P) 25} Since we live by the Spirit,^(Q) let us keep in step with the Spirit.

¹³ How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(A) Forgive me this wrong!^(B)

¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(C) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(D) but parents for their children.^{(E) 15} So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(F) If I love you more,^(G) will you love me less? ¹⁶ Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(H) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷ Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged^(I) Titus^(J) to go to you and I sent our brother^(K) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God^(L) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,^(M) is for your strengthening.^{(N) 20} For I am afraid that when I come^(O) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.^(P) I fear that there may be discord,^(Q) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,^(R) slander,^(S) gossip,^(T) arrogance^(U) and disorder.^(V)

⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.^(A) I have kept myself from being a burden to you^(B) in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,^(C) nobody in the regions of Achaia^(D) will stop this boasting^(E) of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows^(F) I do!^(G)

¹² And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles,^(H) deceitful^(I) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.^(J)

¹⁸ Some of you have become arrogant,^(A) as if I were not coming to you.^{(B) 19} But I will come to you very soon,^(C) if the Lord is willing,^(D) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of^(E) talk but of power.^{(F) 21} What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,^(G) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;^(A) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.^(B)