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

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.

Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.

For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing –

Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,

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

And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)

by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.

because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.

Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.

and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged.