I will most gladlyspendand be expendedfor your souls.IfI loveyou more,am I to be lovedless?
[The heart of] KingDavidlongedto goout to Absalom;for he was comfortedconcerningAmnon,sincehe was dead.
The kingwas deeplymovedand wentup to the chamberoverthe gateand wept.And thushe saidas he walked,"O my sonAbsalom,my son,my sonAbsalom!WouldI had diedinsteadof you, O Absalom,my son,my son!"
For I could wishthat I myselfwere accursed,[separated] from Christfor the sakeof my brethren,my kinsmenaccordingto the flesh,
justas you alsopartiallydid understandus, that we are your reason to be proudas you alsoare ours,in the dayof our LordJesus.
But ifwe are afflicted,it is for your comfortand salvation;or ifwe are comforted,it is for your comfort,which is effectivein the patient enduringof the samesufferingswhichwe alsosuffer;
Why?BecauseI do not loveyou? Godknows[I do]!
Herefor thisthird timeI amreadyto cometo you, and I will not be a burdento you; for I do not seekwhat is yours,but you; for childrenare not responsibleto saveup for [their] parents,but parentsfor [their] children.
And He has saidto me, "My graceis sufficientfor you, for poweris perfectedin weakness."Most gladly,therefore,I will ratherboastaboutmy weaknesses,sothat the powerof Christmay dwellin me.
Thisis the very thingI wroteyou, sothat when I came,I would not havesorrowfrom those whoought to makeme rejoice;having confidencein you allthat my joywould be [the joy] of you all.
Sodeathworksin us, but lifein you.
Make roomfor us [in your hearts]; we wrongednoone,we corruptedno one,we took advantageof no one.
I do not speakto condemnyou, for I have said beforethat you are in our heartsto die togetherand to live together.
You observedaysand monthsand seasonsand years.
But evenifI am being poured out as a drink offeringupon the sacrificeand serviceof your faith,I rejoiceand share my joywith you all.
NowI rejoicein my sufferingsfor your sake,and in my fleshI do my shareon behalfof His body,whichis the church,in fillingup whatis lackingin Christ'safflictions.
Havingsofond an affectionfor you, we were well-pleasedto impartto you not onlythe gospelof Godbut alsoour ownlives,becauseyou had becomevery dearto us.
For thisreasonI endureall thingsfor the sakeof thosewho are chosen,sothat they alsomay obtainthe salvationwhich is in ChristJesus[and] with [it] eternalglory.
Obeyyour leadersand submit[to them], for they keep watchoveryour soulsas those who will givean account.Let them dothiswith joyand not with grief,for thiswould be unprofitablefor you.