because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them.

and through your help to go on into Macedonia and then from Macedonia to come back to you and be helped on our way into Judea by you.

I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.

Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.

But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.

We were encouraged not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement you gave him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your deep concern for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.

Our affection for you is not restricted, but you are restricted in your affections for us.

At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality,

We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.

I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you!

Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow.

Now I appeal to God as my witness, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.

For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we?

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you,

And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.

Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.