For if the service connected with condemnation had such splendor, the service resulting in right standing with God will surely far surpass it in splendor.

Now if the old religious service which resulted in death, although its law was carved in letters of stone, was introduced with a splendor so great that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on Moses' face because of the splendor that was fading from it,

When I went to Troas to preach the good news of Christ, although I had an opportunity in the service of the Lord,

for you are always showing that you are a letter of Christ, produced by my service, written not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

why should not this spiritual service be attended with much greater splendor?

with earnest entreaty, they kept on begging me for the favor of sharing in this service that is being rendered to God's people.

It is really superfluous for me to write to you about this service which is being rendered to God's people,

Because the service rendered by this sacred offering is not only fully supplying the needs of God's people, but it is also running over with many thanks to God for it.

For through the test you get by doing this service you will continue praising God for your fidelity to your confession of the good news of Christ, and for the liberality of your contributions to them and all others;

I sponged on other churches by taking pay from them to render service to you,