Study Desk

For ^(C1)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ^(C2)ministry to the ^(F1)saints;

for I know your willingness, of which I ^(C1)boast about you to the ^(C2)Macedonians, namely, that ^(C3)Achaia has been prepared since ^(C4)last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

But I have sent the brothers, in order that our ^(C1)boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, ^(C2)as I was saying, you will be prepared;

otherwise, if any ^(C1)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame by this confidence.

So I considered it necessary to urge the ^(C1)brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised ^(F1)(C2)generous gift, that the same would be ready as a ^(F1)(C3)generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.

Now I say this: ^(C1)the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows ^(F1)generously will also reap ^(F1)generously.

Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not ^(C1)reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^(C2)God loves a cheerful giver.

And ^(C1)God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

as it is written: "^(C1)HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ^(F1)ENDURES FOREVER."

Now He who supplies ^(C1)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^(C2)increase the harvest of your righteousness;

you will be ^(C1)enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing ^(C2)thanksgiving to God.

For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying ^(C1)the needs of the ^(F1)saints, but is also overflowing ^(C2)through many thanksgivings to God.

Because of the proof given by this ^(C1)ministry, they will ^(C2)glorify God for your obedience to your ^(C3)confession of the ^(C4)gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your ^(F1)contribution to them and to all,

while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

^(C1)Thanks be to God for His indescribable ^(C2)gift!

Now ^(C1)I, Paul, myself ^(C2)urge you by the ^(C3)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who ^(C4)am ^(F1)meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!

I ask that ^(C1)when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I intend to be courageous against ^(C2)some, who regard us as if we walked ^(C3)according to the flesh.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle ^(C1)according to the flesh,

for the ^(C1)weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but ^(F1)divinely powerful ^(C2)for the destruction of fortresses.

We are destroying arguments and all ^(C1)arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the ^(C2)obedience of Christ,

and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever ^(C1)your obedience is complete.

^(F1)(C1)You are looking at ^(F2)things as they are outwardly. ^(C2)If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, ^(C3)so too are we.

For if ^(C1)I boast somewhat ^(F1)more about our ^(C2)authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,

^(F1)for I do not want to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.

For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his ^(F1)personal presence is ^(C1)unimpressive and ^(C2)his speech contemptible."

Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with ^(F1)some of those who ^(C1)commend themselves; but when they ^(F2)measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.

But we will not boast ^(C1)beyond our measure, but ^(F1)(C2)within the measure of the ^(F2)domain which God assigned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.

For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for ^(C1)we were the first to come even as far as you in the ^(C2)gospel of Christ;

not boasting ^(C1)beyond our measure, that is, in ^(C2)other people's labors, but with the hope that as ^(C3)your faith grows, we will be, ^(F1)within our ^(F2)domain, ^(C4)enlarged even more by you,

so as to ^(C1)preach the gospel even to ^(C2)the regions beyond you, and not to boast ^(F1)(C3)in what has been accomplished in the domain of another.

But ^(C1)THE ONE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD.

For it is not the one who ^(C1)commends himself that is approved, but the one ^(C2)whom the Lord commends.