¹⁶ By this we know love, that ^(A)he laid down his life for us, and ^(B)we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. ¹⁷ But ^(C)if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet ^(D)closes his heart against him, ^(E)how does God's love abide in him?

¹³ for ^(A)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ^(B)his good pleasure.

Commendation of Titus

¹⁶ But ^(A)thanks be to God, ^(B)who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.

Encouragement to Give Generously

8 We want you to know, brothers,^[a] about the grace of God that has been ^(A)given among the churches of Macedonia, ² for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ^(B)their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

¹⁴ One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, ^(A)who was a worshiper of God. The Lord ^(B)opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

²⁶ Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because ^(A)her heart yearned for her son, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him.”

³⁰ Then Joseph hurried out, for ^(A)his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and ^(B)wept there.