Study Desk

If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;

in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people."

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,

And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had 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 wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.

Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace God has given the churches of Macedonia.

And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.

But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.

Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

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 enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and your giving through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.