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We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
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Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
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He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
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set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
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For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
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To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?
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The Greater Glory of the New Covenant
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was,
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We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.
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Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
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We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
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persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
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We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
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For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
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So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
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because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.
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Awaiting the New Body
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
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Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
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Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
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and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
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Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
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So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.
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By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
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And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
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Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
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Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
