and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.

And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.

The Light of the Gospel

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.

In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

Paul's Joy

Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.

I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.

Commendation of Titus

But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.