2 Corinthians — Chapter 8

1Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.

2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.

3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,

4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

5And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God.

6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.

7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love through the earnestness of others.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

10And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.

11Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.

12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

13It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

14At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality.

15As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”

16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.

17For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.

18Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel.

19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.

21For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

22And we are sending along with them our brother who has proven his earnestness to us many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.

23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

10And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

16But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

17For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

18And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

19And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

23Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;

2how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, [they gave] of their own accord,

4beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:

5and [this], not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

6Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.

7But as ye abound in everything, [in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all earnestness, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also.

8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.

10And herein I give [my] judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

11But now complete the doing also; that as [there was] the readiness to will, so [there may be] the completion also out of your ability.

12For if the readiness is there, [it is] acceptable according as [a man] hath, not according as [he] hath not.

13For [I say] not [this] that others may be eased [and] ye distressed;

14but by equality: your abundance [being a supply] at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become [a supply] for your want; that there may be equality:

15as it is written, He that [gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [gathered] little had no lack.

16But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.

18And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel [is spread] through all the churches;

19and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in [the matter of] this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and [to show] our readiness:

20Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in [the matter of] this bounty which is ministered by us:

21for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22and we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which [he hath] in you.

23Whether [any inquire] about Titus, [he is] my partner and [my] fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, [they are] the messengers of the churches, [they are] the glory of Christ.

24Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.

1Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia,

2that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity.

3For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,

4begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.

5And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

6Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you.

7But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you—make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.

8I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.

10So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give,

11to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means.

12For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.

13For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

14At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality,

15as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

16But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you,

17because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord.

18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel.

19In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help.

20We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.

21For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men.

22And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you.

23If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.

24Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.

1Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;

2how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.

3For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

4begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

5This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

6So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.

7But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.

8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

10I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

11But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

13For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

14but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

16But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.

18We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies.

19Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

20We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.

21Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.

23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.

24Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.