Study Desk

for we live by trust, not by what we see.

for we must all appear before the Messiah's court of judgment, where everyone will receive the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.

If we are insane, it is for God's sake; and if we are sane, it is for your sake.

For the Messiah's love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead),

and that he died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the one who on their behalf died and was raised.

For he says, "At the acceptable time I heard you; in the day of salvation I helped you."

On the contrary, we try to commend ourselves in every way as workers for God by continually enduring troubles, hardships, calamities,

and truthfulness of speech; and by God's power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons, whether for pressing our cause or defending it;

unknown and famous. And we commend ourselves as God's workers headed for death, yet look! we're alive! as punished, yet not killed;

Do not yoke yourselves together in a team with unbelievers. For how can righteousness and lawlessness be partners? What fellowship does light have with darkness?

What agreement can there be between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God — as God said, "I will house myself in them, . . . and I will walk among you. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Therefore, my dear friends, since we have these promises, let us purify ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit, and strive to be completely holy, out of reverence for God.

Make room for us in your hearts — we haven't wronged anyone, we haven't corrupted anyone, we haven't exploited anyone.

I am not saying this to put blame on you, for I have already said that you have a place in our hearts, whether we live together or die together;

For indeed when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest. On the contrary, we faced all kinds of troubles — altercations without, apprehensions within.

If I caused you pain by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it before — for I do see that that letter did distress you, though only for a short time —

now I rejoice not because you were pained, but because the pain led you to turn back to God. For you handled the pain in God's way, so that you were not harmed by us at all.

For just look at what handling the pain God's way produced in you! What earnest diligence, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what readiness to put things right! In everything you have proved yourselves blameless in the matter.

So even though I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of either the one who did the wrong or the one wronged, but so that before God you could see for yourselves how deep is your devotion to us.

For I had boasted somewhat about you to him, and now I have not been made to look foolish. On the contrary, just as everything we have said to you is true, so too our boasting in front of Titus has proved true.