<t /><p class="bodytext">Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don&#8217;t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we?<n id="1" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.<n id="1" />

Thus<n id="1" /> we urged<n id="2" /> Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work,<n id="3" /> so also he should complete this act of kindness<n id="4" /> for you.

If there is any question<n id="1" /> about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers<n id="2" /> of the churches, a glory to Christ.

And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.<n id="1" />

And even if I am unskilled<n id="1" /> in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way.

Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives!<n id="1" /> If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

<t /><p class="bodytext">This is the third time I am coming to visit<n id="1" /> you. <b><i>By the testimonyi>b><n id="2" /> <b><i>of two or three witnesses every matter will be establishedi>b>.<n id="3" />

If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him &#8211; for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ,

For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including<n id="1" /> more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase<n id="2" /> to the glory of God.

Therefore &#8220;<i><b>come out from their midstb>, <b>and be separateb>i>,&#8221; says the Lord, &#8220;<i><b>and touch no unclean thingb>,i><n id="1" /> <i>and I will welcomei><n id="2" /> <i>youi>,<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">I have great confidence in you; I take great pride<n id="1" /> on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement;<n id="2" /> I am overflowing with joy in the midst of<n id="3" /> all our suffering.

And his affection for you is much greater<n id="1" /> when he remembers the obedience of you all, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

For you know the grace<n id="1" /> of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.

And we are sending<n id="1" /> with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you.

For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated<n id="1" /> (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.<n id="2" />

And God is able to make all grace overflow<n id="1" /> to you so that because you have enough<n id="2" /> of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow<n id="3" /> in every good work.

For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.<n id="1" />

I urged Titus to visit you<n id="1" /> and I sent our<n id="2" /> brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he?<n id="3" /> Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?<n id="4" />

since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He<n id="1" /> is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.