For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.

And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—

I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.