Study Desk

Now, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God which has been ^(C1)given in the churches of ^(C2)Macedonia,

that in a ^(F1)great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the ^(C1)wealth of their liberality.

For I testify that ^(C1)according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily,

begging us with much urging for the ^(C1)favor ^(F1)of participation in the ^(F2)(C2)support of the ^(F3)saints,

and this, not as we had ^(F1)expected, but they first ^(C1)gave themselves to the Lord and to us by ^(C2)the will of God.

So we ^(C1)urged ^(C2)Titus that as he had previously ^(C3)made a beginning, so he would also complete in you ^(C4)this gracious work as well.

But just as you ^(C1)excel ^(C2)in everything, in faith, speaking, knowledge, and in all earnestness and in the ^(F1)love we inspired in you, see that you also ^(C1)excel in this gracious work.

I ^(C1)am not saying this as a command, but as proving, through the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love as well.

For you know ^(C1)the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(C2)though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

I ^(C1)give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin ^(C2)a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.

But now finish ^(F1)doing it also, so that just as there was the ^(C1)willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.

For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable ^(C1)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality—

at this present time your abundance will serve as assistance for ^(C1)their need, so that their abundance also may ^(F1)serve as assistance for ^(C1)your need, so that there may be equality;

as it is written: "^(C1)THE ONE WHO HAD GATHERED MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND THE ONE WHO HAD GATHERED LITTLE DID NOT HAVE TOO LITTLE."

But ^(C1)thanks be to God who ^(C2)puts the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of ^(C3)Titus.

For he not only accepted our ^(C1)appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.

We have sent along with him ^(C1)the brother whose fame in the things of the ^(C2)gospel has spread through ^(C3)all the churches;

^(C1)and not only that, but he has also been ^(C2)appointed by the churches to travel with us in ^(C3)this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our ^(C4)readiness,

^(F1)taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;

for we ^(C1)have regard for what is honorable, not only in ^(C2)the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of other people.

We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.

As for ^(C1)Titus, he is my ^(C2)partner and fellow worker ^(F1)among you; as for our ^(C3)brothers, they are ^(F2)(C4)messengers of the churches, ^(C5)a glory to Christ.

Therefore, ^(F1)openly before the churches, ^(F2)show them the proof of your love and of our ^(C1)reason for boasting about you.

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.

I wish that you would ^(C1)bear with me in a little ^(C2)foolishness; but ^(F1)indeed you are bearing with me.

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I ^(C1)betrothed you to one husband, to ^(C2)present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

But I am afraid that, as the ^(C1)serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

For if ^(F1)one comes and preaches ^(C1)another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a ^(C2)different spirit which you have not received, or a ^(C3)different gospel which you have not accepted, this you ^(C4)tolerate ^(C5)very well!

For I consider myself ^(C1)not in the least inferior to the ^(F1)most eminent apostles.

But even if I am ^(C1)unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in ^(C2)knowledge; in fact, in every way we have ^(C3)made this evident to you in all things.

Or ^(C1)did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the ^(C2)gospel of God to you ^(C3)without charge?

I robbed other churches by ^(C1)taking wages from them to serve you;

and when I was present with you and was in need, I was ^(C1)not a burden to anyone; for when ^(C2)the brothers came from ^(C3)Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from ^(C1)being a burden to you, ^(F1)and will continue to do so.

^(C1)As the truth of Christ is in me, ^(C2)this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of ^(C3)Achaia.

Why? ^(C1)Because I do not love you? ^(C2)God knows that I do!

But what I am doing I will also continue to do, ^(C1)so that I may eliminate the opportunity from those who want an opportunity to be ^(F1)regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.

For such men are ^(C1)false apostles, ^(C2)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

No wonder, for even ^(C1)Satan disguises himself as an ^(C2)angel of light.

Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, ^(C1)whose end will be according to their deeds.

^(C1)Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

What I am saying, I am not saying ^(F1)(C1)as the Lord would, but as ^(C2)in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

Since ^(C1)many boast ^(C2)according to the flesh, I will boast also.

For you, ^(C1)being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.

For you tolerate it if anyone ^(C1)enslaves you, if anyone ^(C2)devours you, if anyone ^(C3)takes advantage of you, if anyone ^(C4)exalts himself, if anyone ^(C5)hits you in the face.

To my ^(C1)shame I must say that we have been ^(C2)weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else ^(C3)is bold—I am ^(C4)speaking in foolishness—I too am bold.

Footnotes:  

Cross References:  

Are they ^(C1)Hebrews? ^(C2)So am I. Are they ^(C3)Israelites? ^(C3)So am I. Are they ^(F1)(C4)descendants of Abraham? ^(C5)So am I.

Are they ^(C1)servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in ^(C2)far more labors, in ^(C3)far more imprisonments, ^(F1)(C4)beaten times without number, often in danger of ^(C5)death.

Five times I received from the Jews ^(C1)thirty-nine lashes.

Three times I was ^(C1)beaten with rods, once I was ^(C2)stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea.

I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my ^(C1)countrymen, dangers from the ^(C2)Gentiles, dangers in the ^(C3)city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among ^(C4)false brothers;

I have been in ^(C1)labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in ^(C2)hunger and thirst, often ^(C3)without food, in cold and ^(F1)(C4)exposure.

Apart from such ^(F1)external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for ^(C1)all the churches.

Who is ^(C1)weak without my being weak? Who is ^(F1)led into sin ^(F2)without my intense concern?

If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my ^(C1)weakness.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, ^(C1)He who is blessed forever, ^(C2)knows that I am not lying.

In ^(C1)Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was ^(C2)guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,

and I was let down in a basket ^(C1)through a window ^(F1)in the wall, and so escaped his hands.

^(C1)Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and ^(C2)revelations ^(F1)of the Lord.

I know a man ^(C1)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^(C2)God knows—such a man was ^(C3)caught up to the ^(C4)third heaven.

And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(C1)God knows—

was ^(C1)caught up into ^(C2)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

^(C1)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my ^(C2)weaknesses.

For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(C1)foolish, ^(C2)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

Because of the extraordinary greatness of the ^(C1)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a ^(C2)thorn in the flesh, a ^(C3)messenger of Satan to ^(F1)torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(C1)three times that it might leave me.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(C1)power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(C2)boast ^(F1)about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Therefore ^(C1)I delight in weaknesses, in ^(F1)insults, in ^(C2)distresses, in ^(C3)persecutions, in ^(C2)difficulties, ^(C4)in behalf of Christ; for ^(C5)when I am weak, then I am strong.

I have become ^(C1)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was ^(C2)in no respect inferior to the ^(F1)most eminent apostles, even though ^(C3)I am a nobody.

The ^(C1)distinguishing marks ^(F1)of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by ^(F2)signs, wonders, and ^(F3)miracles.

For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that ^(C1)I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me ^(C2)this wrong!

Here ^(C1)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I ^(C2)will not be a burden to you; for I ^(C3)do not seek what is yours, but ^(C4)you; for ^(C5)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but ^(C6)parents for their children.

I will ^(C1)most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If ^(C2)I love you more, am I to be loved less?

But be that as it may, I ^(C1)did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I ^(C2)took you in by deceit.

^(C1)Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?

I ^(C1)urged ^(C2)Titus to go, and I sent ^(C3)the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not ^(F1)conduct ourselves ^(F2)in the same ^(C4)spirit and walk ^(C5)in the same steps?

All this time ^(F1)you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, ^(C1)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and ^(C2)all for building you up, ^(C3)beloved.

For I am afraid that perhaps ^(C1)when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be ^(C2)strife, jealousy, ^(C3)angry tempers, ^(C4)selfishness, ^(C5)slanders, ^(C6)gossip, ^(C7)arrogance, ^(C8)disturbances;

I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have ^(C1)sinned in the past and not repented of the ^(C2)impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.