The Cheerful Giver

6 dBut this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows 4bountifully will also reap 4bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, enot grudgingly or of 5necessity; for fGod loves a cheerful giver. 8 gAnd God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

h“He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now 6may He who isupplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, 7supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your jrighteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, kwhich causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only lsupplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they mglorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal nsharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding ograce of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God pfor His indescribable gift!

The Spiritual War

10 Now aI, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—bwho in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you cthat when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 dFor the weapons eof our warfare are not 1carnal but fmighty in God gfor pulling down strongholds, 5 hcasting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 iand being ready to punish all disobedience when jyour obedience is fulfilled.

Reality of Paul’s Authority

7 kDo you look at things according to the outward appearance? lIf anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even 2so mwe are Christ’s. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more nabout our authority, which the Lord gave 3us for 4edification and not for your destruction, oI shall not be ashamed—9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but phis bodily presence is weak, and his qspeech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.