Study Desk

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also well known in your consciences.

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in difficulties,

You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.

For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts on the outside, fears inside.

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

and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted among you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness in our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God.

For if I have boasted to him about you regarding anything, I was not put to shame. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth.

and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

But just as you excel in everything, in faith, speaking, knowledge, and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you also excel in this gracious work.

I am not saying this as a command, but as proving, through the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love as well.

I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.

But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.

For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality—

But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of Titus.

For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.