Study Desk

We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.

So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.

So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,

In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.

Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory.