We Live and Die Together
1These promises I just mentioned are for us, dear friends. So let’s keep our lives pure. Let’s stay away from anything that would leave us feeling dirty, in body or spirit. And let’s focus on our goal of completely devoting [1] ourselves to God, out of the reverence we have for him.2Find room in your hearts for us. We haven’t done anything wrong to anyone. We didn’t point anyone in the wrong direction. We didn’t take advantage of anyone.
I’m Not Trying to Guilt You
3I’m not saying this to load you up with blame. I’ve already said you have a home in my heart. We live together. We die together. 4Listen, I have great confidence in you folks. You make me incredibly proud. In spite of all the trouble I’m going through right now, I want you to know this. I’m filled with encouragement and joy.Good News from Titus’s Trip to Corinth
5When we got to Macedonia, we quickly discovered we’d get no rest there. Critics targeted us from all sides. We had to fight the critics around us and the fear inside of us.6But leave it to God. He’s the one who encourages the discouraged. That’s what he did for us when Titus arrived. 7It wasn’t just his arrival that encouraged us. It was the message he brought. He said you had encouraged him. He told us how much you cared for us, how sorry you were, and how you are worried about me. When I heard that, I was happier than ever.
Paul Doesn’t Regret Writing the Stern Letter
8I know you were upset by the earlier letter [2] I sent. I’ve got to tell you, I’m not sorry I sent it. I’m sorry the letter upset you, but I’m glad it didn’t last long. 9I’m celebrating now. It’s not because I made you sad. I’m celebrating because your sadness prodded you to repent and change your behavior. God was at work in all of this. That’s why you weren’t hurt by what we wrote.10The kind of sadness God wants people to experience is sadness that comes from sin. This sadness convinces people to repent and to change their way of life. It drives people toward salvation. There’s no reason to regret this kind of sadness. But let me tell you this. Sadness that doesn’t convince people to give up their sinful way of living is a sadness that ends in death. 11Look at what this sadness did for you—sadness God wanted you to experience. What an incredible desire it gave you to want to clear your name. What anger you felt, what fear, what desire, what energy, what willingness to accept punishment. I want you to know that in every way possible, you have proved yourselves. You have restored your innocence.
12I didn’t write that earlier letter [3] because of the person who did wrong or because of the person who was hurt. I wrote it because, with God as a witness, I wanted you to see for yourselves how much you care for us.
