2 Corinthians 8 — BSB
Double-click any dotted word for Hebrew/Greek — or press w on a selected verse.
Generosity Commended
8Verse 1Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.Verse 2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.Verse 3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,Verse 4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.Verse 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.Verse 6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.Verse 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.Verse 8I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love through the earnestness of others.Verse 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.Verse 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.Verse 11Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.Verse 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.Verse 13It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.Verse 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.Verse 15As it is written:“He who gathered much had no excess,and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”+