9 There is no need^(A) for me to write to you about this service^(B) to the Lord’s people.^{(C) 2} For I know your eagerness to help,^(D) and I have been boasting^(E) about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year^(F) you in Achaia^(G) were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. ³ But I am sending the brothers^(H) in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.^{(I) 4} For if any Macedonians^(J) come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. ⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers^(K) to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift,^(L) not as one grudgingly given.^(M)

Generosity Encouraged

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.^{(N) 7} Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,^(O) not reluctantly or under compulsion,^(P) for God loves a cheerful giver.^{(Q) 8} And God is able^(R) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,^(S) you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food^(V) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.^{(W) 11} You will be enriched^(X) in every way so that you can be generous^(Y) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.^(Z)

¹² This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs^(AA) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.^{(AB) 13} Because of the service^(AC) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God^(AD) for the obedience that accompanies your confession^(AE) of the gospel of Christ,^(AF) and for your generosity^(AG) in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴ And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God^(AH) for his indescribable gift!^(AI)

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

10 By the humility and gentleness^(AJ) of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,^(AK) who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! ² I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold^(AL) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.^{(AM) 3} For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.^{(AN) 4} The weapons we fight with^(AO) are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power^(AP) to demolish strongholds.^{(AQ) 5} We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,^(AR) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient^(AS) to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.^(AT)

⁷ You are judging by appearances.^[b](AU) If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ,^(AV) they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.^{(AW) 8} So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us^(AX) for building you up rather than tearing you down,^(AY) I will not be ashamed of it. ⁹ I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive^(AZ) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”^{(BA) 11} Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

¹² We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.^(BB) When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. ¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,^(BC) a sphere that also includes you. ¹⁴ We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you^(BD) with the gospel of Christ.^{(BE) 15} Neither do we go beyond our limits^(BF) by boasting of work done by others.^(BG) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,^(BH) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶ so that we can preach the gospel^(BI) in the regions beyond you.^(BJ) For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^{[c](BK) 18} For it is not the one who commends himself^(BL) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.^(BM)