Study Desk

for He says,"At the acceptable time I listened to you,And on the day of salvation I helped you."Behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation"—

giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Or what agreement has a sanctuary of God with idols? For we are a sanctuary of the living God; just as God said,"I will dwell in them and walk among them;And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Make room for us in your hearts. We wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.

I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side—conflicts without, fears within.

and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to repentance. For you were made to have godly sorrow, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

For godly sorrow produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world brings about death.

For behold what earnestness this very thing—this godly sorrow—has brought about in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be manifested to you in the sight of God.

For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame, but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth.

For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,

begging us with much urging for the grace of sharing in the ministry to the saints,

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though being rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

And I give my opinion in this matter, for this is profitable for you, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.