Study Desk

To my shame, I must admit that we have been too "weak" to do such things! But if anyone dares to boast about something — I'm talking like a fool! — I am just as daring.

Are they Hebrew-speakers? So am I. Are they of the people of Isra'el? So am I. Are they descendants of Avraham? So am I.

If I must boast, I will boast about things that show how weak I am.

God the Father of the Lord Yeshua — blessed be he forever — knows that I am not lying!

but he told me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness." Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah's power will rest upon me.

Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong.

I have behaved like a fool, but you forced me to do it — you who should have been commending me. For I am in no way inferior to the "super-emissaries," even if I am nothing.

The things that prove I am an emissary — signs, wonders and miracles — were done in your presence, despite what I had to endure.

Look, I am ready this third time to come and visit you; and I will not be a burden to you; for it is not what you own that I want, but you! Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

And as for me, I will most gladly spend everything I have and be spent myself too for your sakes. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

Let it be granted, then, that I was not a burden to you; but, crafty fellow that I am, I took you with trickery!

For I am afraid of coming and finding you not the way I want you to be, and also of not being found the way you want me to be. I am afraid of finding quarreling and jealousy, anger and rivalry, slander and gossip, arrogance and disorder.

I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me in your presence, and that I will be grieved over many of those who sinned in the past and have not repented of the impurity, fornication and debauchery that they have engaged in.

I write these things while away from you, so that when I am with you I will not have to use my authority to deal sharply with you, for the Lord gave it to me for building up and not for tearing down.

I am astounded that you are so quick to remove yourselves from me, the one who called you by the Messiah's grace, and turn to some other supposedly "Good News,"

(Concerning these matters I am writing you about, I declare before God that I am not lying!)

Here is what I am saying: the legal part of the Torah, which came into being 430 years later, does not nullify an oath sworn by God, so as to abolish the promise.

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a minor he is no different from a slave, even though he is the legal owner of the estate;

To be zealous is good, provided always that the cause is good. Indeed, whether I am present with you or not,

my dear children, I am suffering the pains of giving birth to you all over again — and this will go on until the Messiah takes shape in you.