Study Desk

For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench that kills; but for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that brings life. Who, then, is capable for such a task?

We are not like so many others, who handle God's message as if it were cheap merchandise; but because God has sent us, we speak with sincerity in his presence, as servants of Christ.

It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts.

it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which consists not of a written law but of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

But it can be removed, as the scripture says about Moses: "His veil was removed when he turned to the Lord."

We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair;

there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.

This means that death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever.

While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to get rid of our earthly body, but that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life.

He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake.

Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.

as unknown, yet we are known by all; as though we were dead, but, as you see, we live on. Although punished, we are not killed;

although saddened, we are always glad; we seem poor, but we make many people rich; we seem to have nothing, yet we really possess everything.

But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us with the coming of Titus.

It was not only his coming that cheered us, but also his report of how you encouraged him. He told us how much you want to see me, how sorry you are, how ready you are to defend me; and so I am even happier now.

But now I am happy—not because I made you sad, but because your sadness made you change your ways. That sadness was used by God, and so we caused you no harm.

For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation—and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.

They have been severely tested by the troubles they went through; but their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they are very poor.

I am not laying down any rules. But by showing how eager others are to help, I am trying to find out how real your own love is.