12: 5.

such a man will I boast, but about myself will I not boast, except in so far as my weaknesses are concerned. For if I should desire to boast, I shall not be a fool. For I shall be saying what is true. But I refrain from such a course, so that no one, because of the marvelous character of the revelations, may credit me with more than he can see in me, or hear from me. It was for this reason, as well as to prevent me from thinking too much of myself, I was afflicted with a painful bodily infirmity, Satan's means of disciplining me, so that I might not think too much of myself. About this I begged the Lord three times to take it from me. And he has said to me: "It is enough for you that you have my favor. For power becomes perfect in weakness."

Most gladly, then, will I rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of the Christ may come and dwell in me. It is for this reason I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I have become a fool.

But you are the ones who drove me to it. For I am the man you ought to be recommending. For I am in no way inferior to the most noted Apostles,-even if I am a mere nobody. The signs of the true Apostle, at any rate,

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were effectively accomplished among you, under circumstances calling for every kind of endurance, by signs and wonders, and the powers displayed in doing them. For in what way did you receive worse treatment than the other Churches, except it was in the fact that I, for my part, was in no way a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.

Now this is the third time I have made every preparation to visit you, and I will in no way be a burden to you. For I am not after what you possess, but you. For it is not the duty of children to accumulate riches for their parents, but parents for their children. And I, for my part, will gladly spend and be completely spent for the sake of your souls. But the more I love you, am I to be the less loved?

Let it be admitted, then, that I was in no way a burden to you. "But I am cunning," it is said, "and I have been deceiving you." Surely I have taken no advantage of you by means of any of those whom I have sent to you? I have urged Titus to go to you and am sending our brother with him. Surely Titus has taken no advantage of you? Have not our actions been guided by the same Spirit? Have we not acted in the same way?

Do you think that I have been all along making my defense before you? On the contrary, it is before God, and as belonging to Christ, we are speak

12: 19.

ing. But everything, dear friends, is for the building up of your characters. For I am afraid that, when I visit you, I may not find you such as I wish you were, and that you may find me, also, such as you wish I were not. I am afraid that I may find quarreling, jealousy, ill-feeling, rivalry, slandering, backbiting, self-assertion, and disorder. Yes, I am afraid that, when I again visit you, my God may humble me in my relation to you, and that I may have to mourn over many of you who have for some time been sinning, and have not changed their minds and the purpose of their heart with reference to the impurity, immorality, and sensuality, in which they have indulged.

This is the third time I am coming to you.

On the statement of two or three witnesses
Everything shall be established.

I have already warned those of you who have for
some time been sinning, and all the rest, and now,
while still away from you, I again warn you, as I
did while I was with you, that if I again visit you,
I will spare no one. For you are looking for a
proof, and this will be the proof, that the Christ
always speaks in me.
dealings with you.

There is no weakness in his On the contrary, he is continually showing his power among you. For even if he was crucified in consequence of weakness, he is

2 COR.

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at any rate now living in consequence of the power of God. And so even if we are now weak with him, we shall at any rate live with him in consequence of the power of God,—and that for your sakes.

For he surely is, unfound wanting. But

Do not be continually putting me to the test. Put yourselves to the test, and see whether you are holding the true faith. Examine yourselves. Or, do you not know yourselves well enough to know that Jesus Christ is in you? less you have been tried and I hope that you will recognize the fact that we, at any rate, have not been tried and found wanting. And we pray God that you may do nothing wrong, not so that we may be clearly seen to have been tried and found not wanting, but, on the contrary, so that you may act the noble part, even if we may seem to have been tried and found wanting. For we have no power at all against the truth, but only in its service. For we are glad when we are weak, but you are strong. And that you may become perfect is the very thing we are praying for. It is for this reason I am writing these things in my absence from you, so that, when I am with you, I may not use severity in the exercise of the authority which the Lord gave me for the purpose of building up and not for tearing down.

And now, brothers, good-bye.

Be perfected.

Be encouraged.

Live in harmony.

Live in peace.

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And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet each other with a kiss of devotion.

All the Christians of this place send you their best wishes.

The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

And the sharing in the Holy Spirit,

Be with you all.