Study Desk

in behalf of Christ, then, we are ambassadors, as if God were calling through us, we beseech, in behalf of Christ, `Be ye reconciled to God;'

for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.

And working together also we call upon [you] that ye receive not in vain the grace of God --

in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left,

and what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said -- `I will dwell in them, and will walk among [them], and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,

Having, then, these promises, beloved, may we cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God;

but He who is comforting the cast-down -- God -- He did comfort us in the presence of Titus;

I now do rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry to reformation, for ye were made sorry toward God, that in nothing ye might receive damage from us;

for the sorrow toward God reformation to salvation not to be repented of doth work, and the sorrow of the world doth work death,

for, lo, this same thing -- your being made sorry toward God -- how much diligence it doth work in you! but defence, but displeasure, but fear, but longing desire, but zeal, but revenge; in every thing ye did approve yourselves to be pure in the matter.

If, then, I also wrote to you -- not for his cause who did wrong, nor for his cause who did suffer wrong, but for our diligence in your behalf being manifested unto you before God --

And we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,

and not according as we expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,

And thanks to God, who is putting the same diligence for you in the heart of Titus,

each one, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for a cheerful giver doth God love,

and God [is] able all grace to cause to abound to you, that in every thing always all sufficiency having, ye may abound to every good work,

in every thing being enriched to all liberality, which doth work through us thanksgiving to God,

because the ministration of this service not only is supplying the wants of the saints, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

through the proof of this ministration glorifying God for the subjection of your confession to the good news of the Christ, and [for] the liberality of the fellowship to them and to all,

and by their supplication in your behalf, longing after you because of the exceeding grace of God upon you;