15. I will be glad to spend all I have, and myself as well, in order to help you. Will you love me less because I love you so much?
16. You will agree, then, that I was not a burden to you. But someone will say that I was crafty, and trapped you with lies.
17. How? Did I take advantage of you through any of the messengers I sent?
18. I begged Titus to go, and I sent the other Christian brother with him. Would you say that Titus took advantage of you? Do he and I not act from the very same motives and behave in the same way?
19. Perhaps you think that all along we have been trying to defend ourselves before you. No! We speak as Christ would wish us to speak in the presence of God, and everything we do, dear friends, is done to help you.
20. I am afraid that when I get there I will find you different from what I would like you to be and you will find me different from what you would like me to be. I am afraid that I will find quarrelling and jealousy, hot tempers and selfishness, insults and gossip, pride and disorder.
21. I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the immoral things they have done — their lust and their sexual sins.