Study Desk

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.

and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.

and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.

And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.

I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be equality.

But thanks be to God who puts [fn] the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind,

providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.