Study Desk

Now it is I myself, Sha'ul, making an appeal to you with the meekness and forbearance that come from the Messiah, I who am considered timid when face-to-face with you but intimidating from a distance.

But I beg you not to force me to be intimidating when I am with you, as I expect to be toward some who regard us as living in a worldly way.

Someone says, "His letters are weighty and powerful, but when he appears in person he is weak, and as a speaker he is nothing."

We do not boast about the area in which others labor; but our hope is that as your trust grows, we will be magnified in your midst in relation to our own area of work, so that we can go on to do even more,

because it is not the one who recommends himself who is worthy of approval, but the one whom the Lord recommends.

I may not be a skilled speaker, but I do have the knowledge; anyhow, we have made this clear to you in every way and in every circumstance.

I repeat: don't let anyone think I am a fool. But even if you do, at least receive me as a fool; so that I too may do a little boasting!

To my shame, I must admit that we have been too "weak" to do such things! But if anyone dares to boast about something — I'm talking like a fool! — I am just as daring.

but I was lowered in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped his clutches.

I have to boast. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

About such a man I will boast; but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.

If I did want to boast, I would not be foolish; because I would be speaking the truth. But, because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, I refrain, so that no one will think more of me than what my words or deeds may warrant.

but he told me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness." Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah's power will rest upon me.

I have behaved like a fool, but you forced me to do it — you who should have been commending me. For I am in no way inferior to the "super-emissaries," even if I am nothing.

Look, I am ready this third time to come and visit you; and I will not be a burden to you; for it is not what you own that I want, but you! Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Let it be granted, then, that I was not a burden to you; but, crafty fellow that I am, I took you with trickery!

since you are looking for proof of the Messiah speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but he is powerful among you.

For although he was executed on a stake in weakness, now he lives by God's power. And we too are weak in union with him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God's power.

But I hope you will realize that we are not failures.

And we pray to God that you will do nothing wrong. We are not concerned with our appearing successful, but with your doing what is right, even if we appear to be failures.