Study Desk

The Law of Moses brought only the promise of death, even though it was carved on stones and given in a wonderful way. Still the Law made Moses' face shine so brightly that the people of Israel could not look at it, even though it was a fading glory.

So won't the agreement that the Spirit brings to us be even more wonderful?

In fact, the new agreement is so wonderful that the Law is no longer glorious at all.

So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord's Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord.

We don't do shameful things that must be kept secret. And we don't try to fool anyone or twist God's message around. God is our witness that we speak only the truth, so others will be sure that we can be trusted.

We face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so that his life can also be seen in us.

In the Scriptures it says, "I spoke because I had faith." We have that same kind of faith. So we speak

All of this has been done for you, so that more and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honor him.

So always be cheerful! As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord.

And Christ did die for all of us. He died so we would no longer live for ourselves, but for the one who died and was raised to life for us.

Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God.

We don't want anyone to find fault with our work, and so we try hard not to cause problems.

My friends, God has made us these promises. So we should stay away from everything that keeps our bodies and spirits from being clean. We should honor God and try to be completely like him.

When I wrote you, it wasn't to accuse the one who was wrong or to take up for the one who was hurt. I wrote, so that God would show you how much you do care for us.

We had told him how much we thought of you, and you did not disappoint us. Just as we have always told you the truth, so everything we told him about you has also proved to be true.

Titus was the one who got you started doing this good thing, so we begged him to have you finish what you had begun.

You know that our Lord Jesus Christ was kind enough to give up all his riches and become poor, so that you could become rich.

A year ago you were the first ones to give, and you gave because you wanted to. So listen to my advice.

for you to share with them when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you. Then everyone will have a fair share,

When we begged Titus to visit you, he said he would. He wanted to because he cared so much for you.