1 Generosity and Grace Now brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
2 that in a great testing by affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the richness of their 8:2 Or simplicity; without false motives generosity.
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability,they gaveof their own accord,
4 begging us with much urging for the grace 8:4 Lit and of sharing in the ministry to the saints,
5 andthis, not as we had 8:5Lit hoped expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
6 So we encouraged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and word and knowledge and in all earnestness and in 8:7Lit the love from us in you; one early ms your love for us the love we inspired in you,seethat you abound in this gracious work also.
8 I am not speakingthisas a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though being rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
10 And I givemyopinion in this matter, for this is profitable for you, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to dothis, but also to desireto do it.
11 But now complete 8:11Lit the doing doing it also, so that just asthere wasthe readiness to desire it, sothere may bealso the completion of it from what you have.
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to whata personhas, not according to what he does not have.
13 Forthisis not for the relief of othersandfor your affliction, but by way of equality—
14 at this present time your abundancebeing a supplyfor their need, so that their abundance also may becomea supplyfor your need, that there may be equality.
15 As it is written, “He whogatheredmuch did not have too much,and he whogatheredlittle had no lack.”
16 But 8:16With gratitude; lit grace thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.
17 For he not only accepted our plea, but being himself very earnest, he has gone out to you of his own accord.
18 And we have sent along with him the brother whose praise inthe things ofthe gospel is throughout all the churches.
19 And not onlythis, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work that is being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, andto showour readiness,
20 8:20Lit avoiding this taking precaution lest anyone discredits us in our ministering of this generous gift,
21 for we respect what is good, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many things, but now even more earnest because ofhisgreat confidence in you.
23 As for Titus,he ismy partner and fellow worker 8:23 Lit for you among you; as for our brothers,they are 8:23 Lit apostles messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.
24 Therefore 8:24 Lit in the face of the churches openly before the churches, 8:24 Or show the proof...for boasting to them about you show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.