2 Corinthians 8

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

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

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

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

5 And 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.

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

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

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

9 For 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.

10 And 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.

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

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

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

14 At 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 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.

22 And 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.

23 As 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 ¶ Therefore, 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.

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

9 For 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.

10 And 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.

11 Now 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.

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

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

14 But 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:

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

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

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

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

19 And 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:

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

21 Providing for honest things, 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 oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which [I have] in you.

23 Whether [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.

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

1 I make known to you, brethren, the grace of GOD which is given in the churches of Macedonia.

2 For their joy was exceeding great, being poor through much affliction, yet they gave abundantly in all simplicity.

3 For according to all their ability (I testify), and above ability, they themselves were willing.

4 And besought us with many exhortations to receive the benefits and fellowship of the ministration which is done unto the saints.

5 And not as we hoped, but yielded themselves first unto the LORD, and afterward unto us, by the will of GOD,

6 That we should exhort Titus, that, as he had begun before, so he might also work such a good work among you.

7 But as ye abound in all things, in faith, and in the word, and in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love toward us, see that ye abound also in this benefit.

8 Not that I say I command, but because others are diligent, I also try your love, whether it be right.

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

10 And my good will in this I give. For these things are profitable unto you that began before the year, not only to do, but also to will.

11 But now perform also the doing, that, as there is a mind inclined to will, so there may be also a mind inclined to do of that which ye have.

12 For if a man be willing, he is acceptable after he hath, not after he hath not.

13 Not that they think that others have rest, and that they have affliction; but that it may be the same.

14 Let your abundance minister to their want for this time, that their abundance also may minister to your want hereafter; and let it be done that which is like unto it.

15 As it is written, He that gathered much had not abundance; and he that gathered little had not want.

16 But thanks be to God, which hath put such diligence into the heart of Titus for you.

17 For he received the exhortation, but because he was so diligent, he journeyed unto you of his own accord.

18 But we have sent a brother with him; who hath the praise of the gospel through all the churches;

19 And not only so, but he also is ordained of the churches to be the companion of our journey in this good work, which is done by us for the glory of the Lord, and for the praise of your good will.

20 And take heed lest any man speak evil of us, because of the rich tax which is paid by us.

21 Seeing that it be done uprightly, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 We have also sent with them our brother, whom we have often spued in many things, that he should be diligent, but now much more diligent.

23 And we are very confident of you, whether it be because of Titus, which is my companion and assistant among you, or because of our brethren, which are apostles of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24 Show therefore the evidence of your love and of our glory from you unto them, even publicly before the churches.