I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.

Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.

We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.

There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.

Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.

I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.

Paul’s Final Greetings

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.