Study Desk

If we have troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation, and if we have comfort, you also have comfort. This helps you to accept patiently the same sufferings we have.

Our hope for you is strong, knowing that you share in our sufferings and also in the comfort we receive.

And you can help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us—that God blessed us because of their many prayers.

I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and again on my way back. I wanted to get help from you for my trip to Judea.

He put his mark on us to show that we are his, and he put his Spirit in our hearts to be a guarantee for all he has promised.

We are not trying to control your faith. You are strong in faith. But we are workers with you for your own joy.

I wrote you a letter for this reason: that when I came to you I would not be made sad by the people who should make me happy. I felt sure of all of you, that you would share my joy.

The punishment that most of you gave him is enough for him.

If you forgive someone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if I had anything to forgive—I forgave it for you, as if Christ were with me.

We do not sell the word of God for a profit as many other people do. But in Christ we speak the truth before God, as messengers of God.

We do not preach about ourselves, but we preach that Jesus Christ is Lord and that we are your servants for Jesus.

We are alive, but for Jesus we are always in danger of death so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies that die.

All these things are for you. And so the grace of God that is being given to more and more people will bring increasing thanks to God for his glory.

We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles.

We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made by human hands; instead, it will be a home in heaven that will last forever.

This is what God made us for, and he has given us the Spirit to be a guarantee for this new life.

because we must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each of us will receive what we should get—good or bad—for the things we did in the earthly body.

We are not trying to prove ourselves to you again, but we are telling you about ourselves so you will be proud of us. Then you will have an answer for those who are proud about things that can be seen rather than what is in the heart.

If we are out of our minds, it is for God. If we have our right minds, it is for you.

The love of Christ controls us, because we know that One died for all, so all have died.