For I am not ashamed, even if I have boasted somewhat too much about the authority that the Lord has given us---authority to build you up, not to tear you down.

Someone will say, "Paul's letters are severe and strong, but when he is with us in person, he is weak, and his words are nothing!"

When you forgive people for what they have done, I forgive them too. For when I forgive---if, indeed, I need to forgive anything---I do it in Christ's presence because of you,

For the words you will speak will not be yours; they will come from the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

"And so I tell all of you: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them."

because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say.

(SEE 5:3)

you are to hand this man over to Satan for his body to be destroyed, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.

It is enough that this person has been punished in this way by most of you.

Does this sound as if we were again boasting about ourselves? Could it be that, like some other people, we need letters of recommendation to you or from you?

It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts.

The many miracles and wonders that prove that I am an apostle were performed among you with much patience.

Am I not a free man? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord? And aren't you the result of my work for the Lord?

When people criticize me, this is how I defend myself: