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Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!

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You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed(A)—God is our witness.(B)

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33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes.

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33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(A)

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17 But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?

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17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?

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God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart[a] by spreading the Good News about his Son.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:9 Or in my spirit.

God, whom I serve(A) in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness(B) how constantly I remember you

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20 I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.

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20 I assure you before God(A) that what I am writing you is no lie.(B)

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12 She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyine wood, ivory goods, and objects made of expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble. 13 She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, and bodies—that is, human slaves.

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12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;(A) 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.(B)

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18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.

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18 For they mouth empty, boastful words(A) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping(B) from those who live in error.

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14 They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. 15 They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor,[a] who loved to earn money by doing wrong.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:15 Some manuscripts read Bosor.

14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce(A) the unstable;(B) they are experts in greed(C)—an accursed brood!(D) 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam(E) son of Bezer,[a] who loved the wages of wickedness.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:15 Greek Bosor

In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

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In their greed(A) these teachers will exploit you(B) with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

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Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

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Be shepherds of God’s flock(A) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;(B) not pursuing dishonest gain,(C) but eager to serve;

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A church leader[a] is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,[b] violent, or dishonest with money.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:7a Or An overseer, or A bishop.
  2. 1:7b Greek must not drink too much wine.

Since an overseer(A) manages God’s household,(B) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(C)

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10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.

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10 You are witnesses,(A) and so is God,(B) of how holy,(C) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

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Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone.

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Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

Make room for us in your hearts.(A) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

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