Paul Reveals His Heart

7 Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life—a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God.

² Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. ³ I do not say this to condemn you, for I have said before that you are [nested] in our hearts [and you will remain there] to die together and to live together [with us]. ⁴ Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride and boasting on your behalf. I am filled [to the brim] with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in spite of all our trouble.

⁵ For even when we arrived in Macedonia our bodies had no rest, but we were oppressed at every turn—conflicts and disputes without, fears and dread within. ⁶ But God, who comforts and encourages the depressed and the disquieted, comforted us by the arrival of Titus. ⁷ And not only by his arrival, but also by [his account of] the encouragement which he received in regard to you. He told us about your longing [for us], your mourning [over sin], and how eagerly you took my part and supported me, so that I rejoiced even more. ⁸ For even though I did grieve you with my ^[a]letter, I do not regret it [now]; though I did regret it —for I see that the letter hurt you, though only for a little while— ⁹ yet I am glad now, not because you were hurt and made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance [and you turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that you might not suffer loss in anything on our account. ¹⁰ For [godly] sorrow that is in accord with the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but worldly sorrow [the hopeless sorrow of those who do not believe] produces death. ¹¹ For [you can look back and] see what an earnestness and authentic concern this godly sorrow has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves [against charges that you tolerate sin], what indignation [at sin], what fear [of offending God], what longing [for righteousness and justice], what passion [to do what is right], what readiness to punish [those who sin and those who tolerate sin]! At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in the matter. ¹² So even though I wrote to you [as I did], it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but in order to make evident to you before God how earnestly you do care for us [and your willingness to accept our authority]. ¹³ It is for this reason that we are comforted and encouraged.

And in addition to our comfort, we were especially delighted at the joy of Titus, because you have refreshed his spirit. ¹⁴ For if I have boasted to him at all concerning you, I was not disappointed. But just as everything we ever said to you was true, so our boasting [about you] to Titus has proved true also. ¹⁵ His affection is greater than ever as he remembers the obedience [to his guidance] that all of you exhibited, and how you received him with the greatest respect. ¹⁶ I rejoice that in everything I have [perfect] confidence in you.

Great Generosity

8 Now, brothers and sisters, we want to tell you about the grace of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [awakening in them a longing to contribute]; ² for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity. ³ For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, ⁴ begging us insistently for the privilege of participating in the service for [the support of] the saints [in Jerusalem]. ⁵ Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could]. ⁶ So we urged Titus that, as he began it, he should also complete this gracious work among you as well.

⁷ But just as you excel in everything, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work [of giving] also. ⁸ I am not saying this as a command [to dictate to you], but to prove, by [pointing out] the enthusiasm of others, the sincerity of your love as well. ⁹ For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed). ¹⁰ I give you my opinion in this matter: this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to take action [to help the believers in Jerusalem], but also [the first] to desire to do it. ¹¹ So now finish this, so that your eagerness in desiring it may be equaled by your completion of it, according to your ability. ¹² For if the eagerness [to give] is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ For it is not [intended] that others be relieved [of their responsibility] and that you be ^[b]burdened [unfairly], but ^[c]that there be equality [in sharing the burden]— ¹⁴ at this present time your surplus [over necessities] is going to supply their need, so that [at some other time] their surplus may be given to supply your need, that there may be equality; ¹⁵ as it is written [in Scripture], “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not lack.”^(A)

¹⁶ But thanks be to God who puts the same genuine concern for you in the heart of Titus. ¹⁷ For Titus not only accepted our appeal, but was so very interested in you that he has gone to visit you of his own accord. ¹⁸ And we have sent along with him the ^[d]brother who is praised in the gospel [ministry] throughout all the churches; ¹⁹ and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in regard to this gracious offering which we are administering for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our eagerness [as believers to help one another]. ²⁰ We are taking precaution so that no one will [find anything with which to] discredit us in our administration of this generous gift. ²¹ For we have regard for what is honorable [and above suspicion], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. ²² We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found to be diligent in many things, but who is now even more diligent [than ever] because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service; and as for the [other two] brothers, they are [special] ^[e]messengers of the churches, a glory and credit to Christ. ²⁴ Therefore, show these men, in the sight of the churches, the proof of your love and our reason for being proud of you.

God Gives Most

9 Now it is unnecessary for me to write to you about the offering [that is to be made] for the saints [in Jerusalem]; ² for I know your eagerness [to promote this cause], and I have [proudly] boasted to the people of Macedonia about it, telling them that ^[f]Achaia has been prepared since last year [for this contribution], and your enthusiasm has inspired the majority of them [to respond]. ³ Still, I am sending the brothers [on to you], so that our pride in you may not be an empty boast in this case, and so that you may be prepared, just as I told them you would be; ⁴ otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of yourselves—will be humiliated for being so confident. ⁵ That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you [before I come] and make arrangements in advance for this generous, previously promised gift of yours, so that it would be ready, not as something extorted [or wrung out of you], but as a [voluntary and] generous gift.

⁶ Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows ^[g]generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap ^[h]generously [and be blessed]. ⁷ Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift].^{(B) 8} And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity. ⁹ As it is written and forever remains written,

¹⁰ Now He who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing [that is, your resources] and increase the harvest of your righteousness [which shows itself in active goodness, kindness, and love].^{(D) 11} You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous, and this [generosity, administered] through us is producing thanksgiving to God [from those who benefit]. ¹² For the ministry of this service (offering) is not only supplying the needs of the saints (God’s people), but is also overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God. ¹³ Because of this act of ministry, ^[i]they will glorify God for your obedience to the gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous participation [in this gift] for them and for all [the other believers in need], ¹⁴ and they also long for you while they pray on your behalf, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace [His undeserved favor, mercy, and blessing which is revealed] in you. ¹⁵ Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]!

Paul Describes Himself

10 Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent! ² I ask that when I do come I will not be driven to the boldness that I intend to show toward those few who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh [like men without the Spirit]. ³ For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. ⁴ The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.

⁷ You are looking [only] at the outward appearance of things. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, he should reflect and consider this, that just as he is Christ’s, so too are we. ⁸ For even though I boast rather freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed [of the truth], ⁹ nor do I want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters; ¹⁰ for they say, “His letters are weighty and forceful and impressive, but his ^[j]personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible [of no account].” ¹¹ Let such people realize that what we say by word in letters when we are absent, is the same as what we are in action when present.

¹² We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who [supply testimonials to] commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools. ¹³ We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our proper limit, but [will keep] within the ^[k]limits of our commission (territory, authority) which God has granted to us as a measure, which reaches and includes even you. ¹⁴ We are not overstepping the limits of our province, as if we did not [legitimately] reach to you, for we were the [very] first to come even as far as you with the good news of Christ. ¹⁵ We do not go beyond our proper limit, boasting in the work of other men, but we have the hope that as your faith [in Christ and His divine power] continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly expanded [but still within the limits of our commission], ¹⁶ so that we may preach the gospel even in the lands beyond you, but not to boast in work already accomplished in another one’s field of activity. ¹⁷ However, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”^{(E) 18} For it is not he who commends and praises himself who is approved [by God], but it is the one whom the Lord commends and praises.