-
set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
-
For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
-
Ministers of the New Covenant
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,
-
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
-
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
-
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
-
The Greater Glory of the New Covenant
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was,
-
Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
-
Present Weakness and Resurrection Life
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
-
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
-
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
-
Awaiting the New Body
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
-
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
-
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
-
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
-
As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
-
Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance
Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.
-
I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.
-
Titus Sent to Receive the Collection
Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.
-
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
-
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
