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For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
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But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
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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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Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
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So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
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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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because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
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For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
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For we live by faith, not by sight.
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We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
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that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
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As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
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Paul’s Hardships
We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
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known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
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sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
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We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
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Warning Against Idolatry
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
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I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.
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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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Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—
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yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.
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I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.
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I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
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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.
