16But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17For he accepted indeed the exhortation; but being very zealous, he went to you of his own accord. 18And together with him we sent the brother, whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches; 19and not that only, but who was also appointed by the churches, as our fellow-traveler with this gift[19] which is administered by us, to further the glory of the Lord, and our zeal; 20being careful of this, that no one should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us; 21for we provide for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22And we sent with them our brother, whom we have often in many things proved to be diligent, but now much more diligent, through the great confidence which he has toward you. 23As to Titus, he is my partner, and in regard to you a fellow-laborer; as to our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24Therefore show toward them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
IX. For concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you. 2For I know your readiness of mind, of which I boast for you to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared since a year ago; and your zeal stirred up the greater part of them. 3But I sent the brethren, that our boasting of you might not be made in vain in this respect; that, as I said, ye may be prepared; 4lest haply, if Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in respect to this confidence.
5I thought it necessary, therefore, to exhort the brethren, that they should go before to you, and make up beforehand your bounty before promised, that this may be ready, in manner as a bounty and not as covetousness. 6But as to this, he that sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he that sows with blessings shall also reap with blessings; 7but each as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make every grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound toward every good work; 9(as it is written:
He dispersed abroad, he gave to the poor;
His righteousness abides forever;)
10and he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; 11being enriched in everything to all liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God. 12Because the ministration of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints, but also abounds through many thanksgivings to God; 13while by the proof of this ministration they glorify God for the obedience to your profession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of the contribution to them, and to all; 14they also, with supplication for you, longing after you on account of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
X. Now I, Paul, myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence indeed am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you; 2but I entreat, that I may not when I am present be bold with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, who think of us as walking according to the flesh. 3For though walking in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; 4(for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty before God to the pulling down of strongholds) 5casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; 6and being in readiness to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is made perfect.
7Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trusts to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself consider this again, that, as he is Christ's, so also are we. 8For even if I should boast somewhat more abundantly of our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification, and not for your destruction[8], I shall not be put to shame; 9that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10For his letters, says one, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11Let such a one consider this, that such as we are in word by letters when absent, such will we be also in deed when present.