All this time, have you been thinking that I’ve been speaking up for myself? No, I’ve been speaking with God as my witness. I’ve been speaking like a believer in Christ. Dear friends, everything I do is to help you become stronger.

你们到如今，还想我们是向你们分诉；我们本是在基督里当神面前说话。亲爱的弟兄啊，一切的事都是为造就你们。

你们一直认为我们是在你们面前为自己辩护吗？其实，我们本是在基督里当着上帝面前说话。亲爱的，一切的事都是为了造就你们。

你们一直认为我们是在你们面前为自己辩护吗？其实，我们本是在基督里当着神面前说话。亲爱的，一切的事都是为了造就你们。

你们一直以为我们是替自己辩白，其实我们这番话是在基督里、在上帝面前说的。亲爱的弟兄姊妹，这一切都是为了造就你们。

你们一直以为我们是在向你们申辩吗？我们是在基督里，当着神面前说话的。亲爱的，一切事都是为了建立你们。

你们一直以为我们是在向你们申辩吗？我们是在基督里，在神面前说话。各位蒙爱的人哪，这一切都是为了造就你们。

你們到如今，還想我們是向你們分訴；我們本是在基督裏當神面前說話。親愛的弟兄啊，一切的事都是為造就你們。

你們一直認為我們是在你們面前為自己辯護嗎？其實，我們本是在基督裏當着上帝面前說話。親愛的，一切的事都是為了造就你們。

你們一直認為我們是在你們面前為自己辯護嗎？其實，我們本是在基督裏當着神面前說話。親愛的，一切的事都是為了造就你們。

你們一直以為我們是替自己辯白，其實我們這番話是在基督裡、在上帝面前說的。親愛的弟兄姊妹，這一切都是為了造就你們。

你們一直以為我們是在向你們申辯嗎？我們是在基督裡，當著神面前說話的。親愛的，一切事都是為了建立你們。

你們這一向還以為我們是向你們辯訴呢！不，我們乃是在基督裏、當着上帝面前說話的；而且一切都是為了建立你們的，親愛的啊。

你們一直以為我們是在向你們申辯嗎？我們是在基督裡，在神面前說話。各位蒙愛的人哪，這一切都是為了造就你們。

爾尚意我向爾自訴、然我在基督中上帝前而言也、愛友乎、所言悉以建爾、

爾意我欲自訴乎、凡我良朋、余宗基督、在上帝前而言此、悉以輔爾德、

爾猶思我向爾曹自訴乎、非也、我賴基督在天主前而言、至愛者乎、凡我所行者、乃為建爾德、

爾等以為吾儕但欲自為辨白耳。實則吾儕對越在天、言不離基督、在一切事上、惟欲己達達人、己立立人而已矣。

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.

Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.

All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for building you up, beloved.

Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you. No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but[ we do] all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.

Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

I speak the truth in Christ. I am not lying. My mind tells me that what I say is true. It is guided by the Holy Spirit.

Do I brag too much about the authority the Lord gave me? If I do, it’s because I want to build you up, not tear you down. And I’m not ashamed of that kind of bragging.

Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, each of you brings something. You bring a hymn or a teaching or a message from God. You bring a message in another language or explain what was said in that language. Everything must be done to build up the church.

We are not trying to make an appeal to you again. But we are giving you a chance to take pride in us. Some people take pride in their looks rather than what’s in their hearts. If you take pride in us, you will be able to answer them.Are we“ out of our minds,” as some people say? If so, it is because we want to serve God. Does what we say make sense? If so, it is because we want to serve you.

Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Some people need letters that speak well of them. Do we need those kinds of letters, either to you or from you?

Others have the right to receive help from you. Don’t we have even more right to do so? But we didn’t use that right. No, we have put up with everything. We didn’t want to keep the good news of Christ from spreading.People who serve in the temple get their food from the temple. Don’t you know this? People who serve at the altar eat from what is offered on the altar. Don’t you know this?So those who preach the good news should also receive their living from their work. That is what the Lord has commanded.But I haven’t used any of those rights. And I’m not writing because I hope you will do things like that for me. I would rather die than allow anyone to take away my pride in my work.But when I preach the good news, I can’t brag. I have to preach it. How terrible it will be for me if I do not preach the good news!If I preach because I want to, I get a reward. If I preach because I have to, I’m only doing my duty.Then what reward do I get? Here is what it is. I am able to preach the good news free of charge. And I can do this without using all my rights as a person who preaches the good news.I am free and don’t belong to anyone. But I have made myself a slave to everyone. I do it to win as many as I can to Christ.To the Jews I became like a Jew. That was to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one who was under the law. I did this even though I myself am not under the law. That was to win those under the law.To those who don’t have the law I became like one who doesn’t have the law. I did this even though I am not free from God’s law. I am under Christ’s law. Now I can win those who don’t have the law.To those who are weak I became weak. That was to win the weak. I have become all things to all people. I have done this so that in all possible ways I might save some.I do all this because of the good news. And I want to share in its blessings.

My dear friends, run away from statues of gods. Don’t worship them.

So I will be very happy to spend everything I have for you. I will even spend myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?

I’m sure that the truth of Christ is in me. And I’m just as sure that nobody in Achaia will keep me from bragging.

Dear friends, we have these promises from God. So let us make ourselves pure from everything that makes our bodies and spirits impure. Let us be completely holy. We want to honor God.

I am not lying. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows this. May God be praised forever.

My dear friends, don’t try to get even. Leave room for God to show his anger. It is written,“ I am the God who judges people. I will pay them back,”( Deuteronomy 32:35) says the Lord.

Follow my example. I try to please everyone in every way. I’m not looking out for what is good for me. I’m looking out for the interests of others. I do it so that they might be saved.

My brothers and sisters, in this way remain strong in the Lord. I love you and long for you. Dear friends, you are my joy and my crown.

That’s why I write these things before I come to you. Then when I do come, I won’t have to be hard on you when I use my authority. The Lord gave me the authority to build you up. He didn’t give it to me to tear you down.