² But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

¹⁷ For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

¹¹ Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.

³ For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.

⁴ But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.

⁵ For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),

⁵ Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

²¹ What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

¹² For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.

¹⁴ that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles.

¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

¹⁵ It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

³ But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

¹⁴ For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.

⁶ But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.

⁴ but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

⁵ in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

⁶ in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

⁷ in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

¹² For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.