Study Desk

My opinion is that it is better for you to finish now what you began last year. You were the first, not only to act, but also to be willing to act.

I am not trying to relieve others by putting a burden on you; but since you have plenty at this time, it is only fair that you should help those who are in need. Then, when you are in need and they have plenty, they will help you. In this way both are treated equally.

Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

Now I am sending these believers, so that our boasting about you in this matter may not turn out to be empty words. But, just as I said, you will be ready with your help.

For this service you perform not only meets the needs of God's people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God.

I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you—I who am said to be meek and mild when I am with you, but harsh with you when I am away. By the gentleness and kindness of Christ

It is true that we live in the world, but we do not fight from worldly motives.

The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments;

Someone will say, "Paul's letters are severe and strong, but when he is with us in person, he is weak, and his words are nothing!"

But as the scripture says, "Whoever wants to boast must boast about what the Lord has done."

Perhaps I am an amateur in speaking, but certainly not in knowledge; we have made this clear to you at all times and in all conditions.

I repeat: no one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, just so I will have a little to boast of.

But since there are so many who boast for merely human reasons, I will do the same.

I am ashamed to admit that we were too timid to do those things! But if anyone dares to boast about something—I am talking like a fool—I will be just as daring.

Are they Christ's servants? I sound like a madman—but I am a better servant than they are! I have worked much harder, I have been in prison more times, I have been whipped much more, and I have been near death more often.

But I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.

I have to boast, even though it doesn't do any good. But I will now talk about visions and revelations given me by the Lord.

So I will boast about this man—but I will not boast about myself, except the things that show how weak I am.

If I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will not boast, because I do not want any of you to have a higher opinion of me than you have as a result of what you have seen me do and heard me say.

But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud.