Study Desk

now I rejoice not because you were pained, but because the pain led you to turn back to God. For you handled the pain in God's way, so that you were not harmed by us at all.

Pain handled in God's way produces a turning from sin to God which leads to salvation, and there is nothing to regret in that! But pain handled in the world's way produces only death.

So even though I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of either the one who did the wrong or the one wronged, but so that before God you could see for yourselves how deep is your devotion to us.

Now, brothers, we must tell you about the grace God has given the congregations in Macedonia.

Now I thank God for making Titus as devoted to you as we are;

for we take pains to do what is right not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of other people .

Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver .

Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause —

You will be enriched in every way, so that you can be generous in everything. And through us your generosity will cause people to thank God,

because rendering this holy service not only provides for the needs of God's people, but it also overflows in the many thanks people will be giving to God.

In offering this service you prove to these people that you glorify God by actually doing what your acknowledgement of the Good News of the Messiah requires, namely, sharing generously with them and with everyone.

And in their prayers for you they will feel a strong affection for you because of how gracious God has been to you.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah.

We will not boast about what lies outside the area of work which God has given us; rather, we will boast within our assigned area, and that area does reach as far as you.

Why won't I ever accept your support? Is it that I don't love you? God knows I do!

God the Father of the Lord Yeshua — blessed be he forever — knows that I am not lying!

I know a man in union with the Messiah who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the third heaven; whether he was in the body or outside the body I don't know, God knows.

And I know that such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I don't know, God knows —

Perhaps you think that all this time we have been defending ourselves before you. No, we have been speaking in the sight of God, as those united with the Messiah should; and, my dear friends, it is all for your upbuilding.