Study Desk

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches^(a) of Macedonia:^(b)

During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.^(c)

I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability,

they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing^(d) in the ministry to the saints,

and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God's will.^(e)

So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you.

Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge,^(f) and in all diligence, and in your love for us^[a]—excel also in this grace.

I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich,^(g) for your sake He became poor,^(h) so that by His poverty you might become rich.

Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.^[b](i)

But now finish the task^[c] as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have.

For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.^(j)

It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality^[d]—

at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality.

As it has been written: The person who gathered much did not have too much, and the person who gathered little did not have too little. ^(k)[e]

Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus.

For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice.

We have sent with him the brother^(l) who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.^[f]

And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift^[g] that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us.

For we are making provision^(m) for what is right,⁽ⁿ⁾ not only before the Lord but also before men.

We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.

As for Titus, he is my partner^(o) and coworker^(p) serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers^(q) of the churches, the glory of Christ.^(r)

Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting^(s) about you.

Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you.

For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians:^[a](a) "Achaia^[b](b) has been prepared since last year," and your zeal^(c) has stirred up most of them.^(d)

But I sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said.

For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation.^[c]

Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift^(e) you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.^(f)

Remember this:^[d] The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves^(g) a cheerful giver.

And God is able^(h) to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

As it is written: He scattered; ⁽ⁱ⁾ He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. ^(j)[e]

Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.^(k)

You will be enriched^(l) in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

For the ministry of this service^(m) is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God.

They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of^[f] the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity⁽ⁿ⁾ in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service.

And they will have deep affection for^[g] you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

Now I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent.

I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are behaving in an unspiritual way.^[a](a)

For though we live in the body,^[b] we do not wage war in an unspiritual way,^[c]

since the weapons of our warfare^(b) are not worldly,^[d] but are powerful^(c) through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments

and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge^(d) of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.

And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience has been confirmed.

Look at what is obvious.^[e] If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ,^(e) he should remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we.

For if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up^(f) and not for tearing you down, I am not ashamed.

I don't want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters.

For it is said, "His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak, and his public speaking is despicable."

Such a person should consider this: What we are in the words of our letters when absent, we will be in actions when present.

For we don't dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend^(g) themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves,^(h) they lack understanding.⁽ⁱ⁾

We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned^(j) to us, which reaches even to you.

For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ.

We are not bragging beyond measure about other people's labors. But we have the hope^(k) that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged,

so that we may proclaim the good news to the regions beyond you,^(l) not boasting about what has already been done in someone else's area of ministry.^(m)

So the one who boasts must boast in the Lord. ^(n)[f]

For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.^(o)

I wish you would put up with a little foolishness^(a) from me. Yes, do put up with me.^[a]

For I am jealous^(b) over you with a godly jealousy,^(c) because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure^(d) virgin to Christ.

But I fear that, as the serpent^(e) deceived^(f) Eve^(g) by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure^[b] devotion to Christ.^(h)

For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus,⁽ⁱ⁾ whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit,^(j) which you had not received, or a different gospel,^(k) which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the "super-apostles."^(l)

Though untrained in public speaking,^(m) I am certainly not untrained in knowledge.⁽ⁿ⁾ Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything.

Or did I commit a sin by humbling^(o) myself so that you might be exalted,^(p) because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?^(q)

I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.

When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia^(r) supplied my needs.^(s) I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped^[c] in the regions of Achaia.^(t)

Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do!

But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny^[d] the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.

For such people are false apostles,^(u) deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny^[e] will be according to their works.^(v)

I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little.

What I say in this matter^[f] of boasting, I don't speak as the Lord would, but foolishly.

Since many boast in an unspiritual way,^[g] I will also boast.

For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!^(w)

In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours^(x) you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits^(y) you in the face.

I say this to our shame: We have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:

Are they Hebrews?^(z) So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham?^(aa) So am I.

Are they servants of Christ? I'm talking like a madman—I'm a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death^[h] many times.

Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews.^(ab)

Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans.^(ac) Once I was stoned by my enemies.^[i](ad) Three times I was shipwrecked.^(ae) I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.

On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers,^(af) dangers from my own people,^(ag) dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers;

labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.^(ah)

Not to mention^[j] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble,^(ai) and I do not burn with indignation?

If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.

The God and Father^(aj) of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows I am not lying.

In Damascus,^(ak) the governor under King Aretas^[k] guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me,

so I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.^(al)

Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions^(a) and revelations^(b) of the Lord.

I know a man in Christ who was caught up^(c) into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don't know, God knows.

I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don't know, God knows—

was caught up into paradise.^(d) He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak.

I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth.^(e) But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me,

especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh^(f) was given to me, a messenger^[a] of Satan^(g) to torment me so I would not exalt myself.

Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power ^[b](h) is perfected in weakness." ⁽ⁱ⁾ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.

So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ.^(j) For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(k)

I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.^(l)

The signs^(m) of an apostle⁽ⁿ⁾ were performed with great endurance among you—not only signs but also wonders^(o) and miracles.^(p)

So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

Now I am ready to come to you this third time.^(q) I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.^[c](r) If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

Now granted, I have not burdened^(s) you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!^(t)

Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent you?

I urged Titus^(u) to come, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit^(v) and in the same footsteps?

You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you.^[d] No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.^(w)

For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want;^[e] there may be quarreling,^(x) jealousy,^(y) outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions,^(z) slander,^(aa) gossip, arrogance, and disorder.^(ab)

I fear that when I come my God will again^[f] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented^(ac) of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,^(ad) and promiscuity^(ae) they practiced.