Study Desk

I do not say this to blame you. I told you before that we love you so much we would live or die with you.

Now I am happy, not because you were made sad, but because your sorrow made you change your lives. You became sad in the way God wanted you to, so you were not hurt by us in any way.

I wrote that letter, not because of the one who did the wrong or because of the person who was hurt. I wrote the letter so you could see, before God, the great care you have for us.

That is why we were comforted. Not only were we very comforted, we were even happier to see that Titus was so happy. All of you made him feel much better.

So we asked Titus to help you finish this special work of grace since he is the one who started it.

You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor so that by his becoming poor you might become rich.

So now finish the work you started. Then your "doing" will be equal to your "wanting to do." Give from what you have.

We are being careful so that no one will criticize us for the way we are handling this large gift.

So show these men the proof of your love and the reason we are proud of you. Then all the churches can see it.

But I am sending the brothers to you so that our bragging about you in this will not be empty words. I want you to be ready, as I said you would be.

If any of the people from Macedonia come with me and find that you are not ready, we will be ashamed that we were so sure of you. (And you will be ashamed, too!)

So I thought I should ask these brothers to go to you before we do. They will finish getting in order the generous gift you promised so it will be ready when we come. And it will be a generous gift—not one that you did not want to give.

God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will give you all the seed you need and make it grow so there will be a great harvest from your goodness.

He will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will cause many to give thanks to God.

It is true that we brag freely about the authority the Lord gave us. But this authority is to build you up, not to tear you down. So I will not be ashamed.

They should know this: We are not there with you now, so we say these things in letters. But when we are there with you, we will show the same authority that we show in our letters.

I accepted pay from other churches, taking their money so I could serve you.

So it does not surprise us if Satan's servants also make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end they will be punished for what they do.

I tell you again: No one should think I am a fool. But if you think so, accept me as you would accept a fool. Then I can brag a little, too.

Many people are bragging about their lives in the world. So I will brag too.