Jesus

For the Messiah’s love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead),

and that he died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the one who on their behalf died and was raised.

So from now on, we do not look at anyone from a worldly viewpoint. Even if we once regarded the Messiah from a worldly viewpoint, we do so no longer.

Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new!

And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation,

which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to God!

God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.”

As God’s fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive his grace and then do nothing with it.

For he says, “At the acceptable time I heard you; in the day of salvation I helped you.”

What harmony can there be between the Messiah and B’liya‘al? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

What agreement can there be between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God — as God said, “I will house myself in them, . . . and I will walk among you. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Therefore Adonai says, “‘Go out from their midst; separate yourselves; don’t even touch what is unclean. Then I myself will receive you.

In fact, I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters.’ says Adonai-Tzva’ot.”

Also, they didn’t do this in the way we had expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, which means, by God’s will, to us.

For you know how generous our Lord Yeshua the Messiah was — for your sakes he impoverished himself, even though he was rich, so that he might make you rich by means of his poverty.

not only that, he has also been appointed by the congregations to travel with us, so that the way we administer this charitable work will bring honor to the Lord and show our eagerness to help.

for we take pains to do what is right not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of other people.

As for Titus, he is my partner who works with me on your behalf; and the other brothers with him are emissaries of the congregations and bring honor to the Messiah.

as the Tanakh says, “He gave generously to the poor; his tzedakah lasts forever.”

He who provides both seed for the planter and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your tzedakah.

In offering this service you prove to these people that you glorify God by actually doing what your acknowledgement of the Good News of the Messiah requires, namely, sharing generously with them and with everyone.

Now it is I myself, Sha’ul, making an appeal to you with the meekness and forbearance that come from the Messiah, I who am considered timid when face-to-face with you but intimidating from a distance.

and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah.

For even if I boast a little too much about the authority the Lord has given us — authority to build you up, not tear you down — I am not ashamed.