Study Desk

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)