1 My friends, God has made us these promises. So we should stay away from everything that keeps our bodies and spirits from being clean. We should honor God and try to be completely like him.
The Church Makes Paul Happy
2 Make a place for us in your hearts! We haven't mistreated or hurt anyone. We haven't cheated anyone. 3 I am not saying this to be hard on you. But, as I have said before, you will always be in our thoughts, whether we live or die. 4 I trust you completely. I am always proud of you, and I am greatly encouraged. In all my trouble I am still very happy.
5 After we came to Macedonia, we didn't have any chance to rest. We were faced with all kinds of problems. We were troubled by enemies and troubled by fears. 6 But God cheers up people in need, and this is what he did when he sent Titus to us. 7 Of course, we were glad to see Titus, but what really made us glad is the way you cheered him up. He told how sorry you were and how concerned you were about me. And this made me even happier.
8 I don't feel bad anymore, even though my letter hurt your feelings. I did feel bad at first, but I don't now. I know that the letter hurt you for a while. 9 Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. 10 When God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel sorry, it can cause your death.
11 Just look what God has done by making you feel sorry! You sincerely want to prove you are innocent. You are angry. You are shocked. You are eager to see that justice is done. You have proved that you were completely right in this matter. 12 When I wrote you, it wasn't to accuse the one who was wrong or to take up for the one who was hurt. I wrote, so God would show you how much you do care for us. 13 And we were greatly encouraged.
Although we were encouraged, we felt even better when we saw how happy Titus was, because you had shown he had nothing to worry about. 14 We had told him how much we thought of you, and you did not disappoint us. Just as we have always told you the truth, so everything we told him about you has also proved to be true. 15 Titus loves all of you very much, especially when he remembers how you obeyed him and how you trembled with fear when you welcomed him. 16 It makes me really glad to know I can depend on you.
1 Tā kā mums ir tādi apsolījumi, mani mīļie, tad šķīstīsimies no visiem miesas un gara traipiem un tapsim pilnīgi svēti Dieva bijībā. 2 Atveriet mums savas sirdis, mēs neesam nevienam pāri darījuši, nevienu neesam veduši postā, nevienu pievīluši. 3 To es nesaku notiesādams. Jo es jums to jau esmu sacījis, ka jūs esat mūsu sirdīs, lai mēs kopā mirtu un kopā dzīvotu. 4 Man ir pilnīga uzticība uz jums, es esmu lepns uz jums un ļoti iepriecināts, neraugoties uz visām mūsu bēdām, mans prieks ir ļoti liels. 5 Kad nonācām Maķedonijā, mūsu miesai nebija ne mazākās atpūtas, bēdas no visām pusēm: ārā cīņas, iekšā bailes. 6 Bet Dievs, kas iepriecina pazemīgos, iepriecināja mūs ar Tita atnākšanu; 7 un ne ar viņa atnākšanu vien, bet arī ar to iepriecu, ko viņš saņēmis no jums, kad viņš mums stāstīja par jūsu ilgām, par jūsu skumjām, par jūsu rūpēm par mani, tad mani pārņēma vēl lielāks prieks. 8 Jebšu es jūs ar savu vēstuli esmu skumdinājis, tomēr es to nenožēloju; ja es agrāk arī to nožēloju - jo es redzu gan, ka šī vēstule jūs skumdināja, lai arī tikai uz brīdi, - 9 tad tagad es priecājos ne par to, ka jūs tapāt skumdināti, bet par to, ka jūs tapāt skumdināti uz atgriešanos; jo jūs esat skumdināti pēc Dieva prāta, lai jums nekas no mums nenāktu par ļaunu. 10 Jo dievišķas skumjas dod atgriešanās svētību, ko neviens nenožēlos; bet pasaulīgās skumjas nes nāvi. 11 Jo redziet, šīs dievišķās skumjas - kādu rosību tās ir jūsos modinājušas, pat aizstāvēšanos, uztraukumu, bailes, ilgas, centību, sodīšanu! Katrā ziņā jūs esat pierādījuši, ka šinī lietā esat nevainīgi. 12 Ko es jums arī rakstīju, tas nenotika apvainotāja vai apvainotā dēļ, bet tādēļ, lai jūsu rūpība par mums parādītos jūsu vidū Dieva priekšā. 13 Tādēļ mēs esam iepriecināti. Mūsu ieprieca top vēl pilnīgāka, vērojot Tita prieku, jo jūs visi esat viņa garu atspirdzinājuši. 14 Ja es jūs viņam kaut kā esmu slavējis, tad es neesmu palicis kaunā; bet, tāpat kā es jums visās lietās esmu runājis patiesību, tā arī mūsu uzslava Titam ir bijusi patiesība. 15 Viņa sirsnība pret jums ir vēl lielāka, atceroties jūsu paklausību, kā jūs viņu uzņēmāt ar bailēm un bijību. 16 Es priecājos, ka varu uz jums paļauties visās lietās.
