¹⁸ And we are sending along with him the brother^(A) who is praised by all the churches^(B) for his service to the gospel.^(C)

¹⁸ I urged^(A) Titus^(B) to go to you and I sent our brother^(C) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

¹⁹ What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us^(A) as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.^(B)

Concerning Change of Status

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.^(A) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.^(B)

²² In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for Titus,^(A) he is my partner^(B) and co-worker^(C) among you; as for our brothers,^(D) they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ.

Ministers of the New Covenant

¹² Now when I went to Troas^(A) to preach the gospel of Christ^(B) and found that the Lord had opened a door^(C) for me,