⁸ For even if I should boast somewhat more ^(A)about our authority, which the Lord gave ^[a]us for ^[b]edification and not for your destruction, ^(B)I shall not be ashamed—

^10 (A)Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the ^(B)authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

¹² For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, ^(A)for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but ^(A)through Jesus Christ and God the Father ^(B)who raised Him from the dead),

⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

^2 (A)I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent ^[a]I write to those ^(B)who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again ^(C)I will not spare— ³ since you seek a proof of Christ ^(D)speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty ^(E)in you.

⁶ For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

²⁴ Not ^(A)that we ^[a]have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for ^(B)by faith you stand.

¹⁴ For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.