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.

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。

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.

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 conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—

So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

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.If we are“ out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law( though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.To those not having the law I became like one not having the law( though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?

As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written:“ It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority— the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.