9. In fact, we still feel as if we’re under a death sentence. But we suffered so that we would stop trusting ourselves and learn to trust God, who brings the dead back to life.
10. He has rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us in the future. We are confident that he will continue to rescue us,
11. since you are also joining to help us when you pray for us. Then many people will thank God for the favor he will show us because many people prayed for us.
12. We are proud that our conscience is clear. We are proud of the way that we have lived in this world. We have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity, especially toward you. It was not by human wisdom that we have lived but by God’s kindness.
13. We are only writing you what you already knew before you read this. I hope you will understand this as long as you live,
14. even though you now understand it only partially. We are your reason to be proud, as you will be our reason to be proud on the day of our Lord Jesus.
15. Confident of this, I had previously wanted to visit you so that you could benefit twice.
16. My plans had been to go from the city of Corinth to the province of Macedonia. Then from Macedonia I had planned to return to you again in Corinth and have you support my trip to Judea.
17. You don’t think that I made these plans lightly, do you? Do you think that when I make plans, I make them in a sinful way? Why would I say that something is true when it isn’t?