I do not speakto condemnyou, for I have said beforethat you are in our heartsto die togetherand to live together.
Why?BecauseI do not loveyou? Godknows[I do]!
I will most gladlyspendand be expendedfor your souls.IfI loveyou more,am I to be lovedless?
For thisreasonI am writingthese thingswhile absent,sothat when presentI [need] not useseverity,in accordancewith the authoritywhichthe Lordgaveme for buildingup and not for tearing down.
You are our letter,writtenin our hearts,knownand readby allmen;
SoalthoughI wroteto you, [it was] not for the sakeof the offendernorfor the sakeof the one offended,but that your earnestnesson our behalfmight be made knownto you in the sightof God.
For it is onlyrightfor me to feelthis wayaboutyou all,becauseI haveyou in my heart,since bothin my imprisonmentand in the defenseand confirmationof the gospel,you allare partakersof gracewith me.
Havingsofond an affectionfor you, we were well-pleasedto impartto you not onlythe gospelof Godbut alsoour ownlives,becauseyou had becomevery dearto us.