You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us. And so we want you to also be rich in this gift of giving.
“Then the servant that got two bags of money came to the master. The servant said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of money to care for. So I used your two bags of money to earn two more.’
My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of good. I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other.
Some of us are Jews and some of us are Greeks (non-Jews); some of us are slaves and some of us are free. But we were all baptized {\cf2\super [86]} into one body through one Spirit. {\cf2\super [87]} And we were all given {\cf2\super [88]} the one Spirit.
I may have the gift of prophecy {\cf2\super [93]} ; I may understand all the secret things \{of God\} and know everything; and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I don’t have love, then I am nothing.
Love never ends. There are \{gifts of\} prophecy, {\cf2\super [94]} but they will be ended. There are \{gifts of speaking in different kinds of\} languages, but those gifts will end. There is \{the gift of\} knowledge, but it will be ended.
Who says that you are better than other people? Everything you have was given to you. So, if everything you have was given to you, then why do you boast like you got those things by your own power?
We were comforted by his coming and also by the comfort that you gave him. Titus told us about your wish to see me. He told us that you are very sorry for the things you did. And Titus told me about your great care for me. When I heard this, I was much happier.
We thank God for you always. And we should do that because that is right for us to do. It is right because your faith is growing more and more. And the love that every one of you has for each other is also growing.
Now you have made yourselves pure by obeying the truth. Now you can have true love for your brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply—with all your heart.
You say you are rich. You think you have become wealthy and don’t need a thing. But you don’t know that you are really terrible, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.