Study Desk

Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,

and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away.

But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts;

But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.

Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

for He says, "AT A FAVORABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON A DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "A FAVORABLE TIME," behold, now is "A DAY OF SALVATION"—

Or what harmony does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever?

"And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.

For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—

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.

that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.

So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.

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.

For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.

So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised generous gift, that the same would be ready as a generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.

Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.