Study Desk

Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.

But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.

In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief?

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.

That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.

For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

This is the third time I am coming to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."

This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-

Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.

Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose-at any time, and not only when I am with you.