Study Desk

Even if the letter I wrote you made you sad, I am not sorry I wrote it. I know that letter made you sad, and I was sorry for that. But it made you sad only for a short time.

The kind of sorrow God wants makes people decide to change their lives. This leads them to salvation, and we cannot be sorry for that. But the kind of sorrow the world has will bring death.

The main reason I wrote that letter was not because of the one who did the wrong or the one who was hurt. I wrote so that you would realize, before God, how very much you care for us.

And his love for you is stronger when he remembers that you were all ready to obey. You welcomed him with respect and fear.

But they asked us again and again—they begged us to let them share in this service for God's people.

You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that he gave up his heavenly riches for you. He gave up everything so that you could be richly blessed.

I thank God because he gave Titus the same love for you that I have.

We are being careful so that no one will criticize us about the way we are caring for this large gift.

I really don't need to write to you about this help for God's people.

But I am sending these brothers to you. I don't want our bragging about you in this to be for nothing. I want you to be ready just as I said you would be.

God is the one who gives seed to those who plant, and he gives bread for food. And God will give you spiritual seed and make that seed grow. He will produce a great harvest from your goodness.

Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful to describe.

They think our motives for what we do are like those of the world. I plan to be very bold against those people when I come. I hope I will not need to use that same boldness with you.

I am jealous for you with a jealousy that comes from God. I promised to give you to Christ. He must be your only husband. I want to give you to Christ to be his pure bride.

So it does not surprise us if Satan's servants make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end those people will get the punishment they deserve.

And there are many other problems. One of these is the care I have for all the churches. I worry about each group of believers every day.

Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.

So you received everything that the other churches have received. Only one thing was different: I was not a burden to you. Forgive me for this!

I am now ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don't want any of the things you own. I only want you. Children should not have to save things to give to their parents. Parents should save to give to their children.

So I am happy to give everything I have for you. I will even give myself for you. If I love you more, will you love me less?