Study Desk

For grief according to God works repentance to salvation, never to be regretted; but the grief of the world works death.

For, behold, this same thing, your being grieved according to God, how much diligence it wrought in *you*, but [what] excusing [of yourselves], but [what] indignation, but [what] fear, but [what] ardent desire, but [what] zeal, but [what] vengeance: in every way ye have proved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

So then, if also I wrote to you, [it was] not for the sake of him that injured, nor for the sake of him that was injured, but for the sake of our diligent zeal for you being manifested to you before God.

But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia;

But thanks [be] to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus.

each according as he is purposed in his heart; not grievingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

But God is able to make every gracious gift abound towards you, that, having in every way always all-sufficiency, ye may abound to every good work:

enriched in every way unto all free-hearted liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.

Because the ministration of this service is not only filling up the measure of what is lacking to the saints, but also abounding by many thanksgivings to God;

they glorifying God through the proof of this ministration, by reason of your subjection, by profession, to the glad tidings of the Christ, and your free-hearted liberality in communicating towards them and towards all;

and in their supplication for you, full of ardent desire for you, on account of the exceeding grace of God [which is] upon you.

Thanks [be] to God for his unspeakable free gift.

For the arms of our warfare [are] not fleshly, but powerful according to God to [the] overthrow of strongholds;

overthrowing reasonings and every high thing that lifts itself up against the knowledge of God, and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ;

Now *we* will not boast out of measure, but according to the measure of the rule which the God of measure has apportioned to us, to reach to you also.

For I am jealous as to you with a jealousy [which is] of God; for I have espoused you unto one man, to present [you] a chaste virgin to Christ.

Have I committed sin, abasing myself in order that *ye* might be exalted, because I gratuitously announced to you the glad tidings of God?

Why? because I do not love you? God knows.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows—he who is blessed for ever—that I do not lie.

I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, (whether in [the] body I know not, or out of the body I know not, God knows;) such [a one] caught up to [the] third heaven.