Study Desk

All the other apostles are greater than I am. I say this because I persecuted the church of God. That is why I am not even good enough to be called an apostle.

But, because of God's grace, that is what I am. And his grace that he gave me was not wasted. I worked harder than all the other apostles. (But I was not really the one working. It was God's grace that was with me.)

I face death every day. That is true, brothers and sisters, just as it is true that I am proud of what you are because of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy might come to you. Try to make him feel comfortable with you. He is working for the Lord the same as I am.

So none of you should refuse to accept Timothy. Help him continue on his trip in peace so that he can come back to me. I am expecting him to come back with the other brothers.

I am happy that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come. You are not here, but they have filled your place.

Greetings from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted. Greetings also from Timothy our brother in Christ. To God's church in Corinth and to all of God's holy people throughout Achaia.

I feel that I can tell you anything. I am very proud of you. Even with all the troubles we have had, I am greatly encouraged and feel very happy.

Even if the letter I wrote you made you sad, I am not sorry I wrote it. I know that letter made you sad, and I was sorry for that. But it made you sad only for a short time.

Now I am happy, not because you were made sad, but because your sorrow made you decide to change. That is what God wanted, so you were not hurt by us in any way.

I am so happy that I can trust you fully.

I am not ordering you to give, but I want to see how real your love is by comparing you with others who have been so ready and willing to help.

But I am sending these brothers to you. I don't want our bragging about you in this to be for nothing. I want you to be ready just as I said you would be.

I, Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. Some say that I am bold when I am writing you from a distance, but not when I am there with you.

I don't want you to think that I am trying to scare you with my letters.

I wish you would be patient with me even when I am a little foolish. But you are already patient with me.

I am jealous for you with a jealousy that comes from God. I promised to give you to Christ. He must be your only husband. I want to give you to Christ to be his pure bride.

But I am afraid that your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ. This could happen just as Eve was tricked by that snake with his clever lies.

I don't think that those "super apostles" are any better than I am.

It is true that I am not a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have shown this to you clearly in every way.