Study Desk

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart.

For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If one died for all, then all died.

And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.”

He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

For he says:

We are not giving anyone an occasion for offense, so that the ministry will not be blamed.

by the word of truth, by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

Don’t become partners with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said:

Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, corrupted no one, taken advantage of no one.

and not only by his arrival but also by the comfort he received from you. He told us about your deep longing, your sorrow, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

For even if I grieved you with my letter, I don’t regret it. And if I regretted it—since I saw that the letter grieved you, yet only for a while—

I now rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death.

For consider how much diligence this very thing—this grieving as God wills—has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure in this matter.

For this reason we have been comforted.