8Verse 1Now+we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.Verse 2During a severe trial of affliction, their abundant joy and their deep poverty abounded in a wealth of generosity on their part.Verse 3For I testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,Verse 4urgently begging us+for the privilege of contributing to the gift for the saints in Jerusalem.Verse 5And they did not do this in the way we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by the will of God.Verse 6So we have urged Titus, who previously encouraged you to begin gathering money, to return and help you complete this gracious gift.Verse 7But just as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in+your love for us—make sure you abound in this gracious gift as well.Verse 8I am not saying this as a command, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.Verse 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for+your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you could become rich.Verse 10So I am giving my advice about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were not only the first who wanted to give, but you were also the first to begin doing so.Verse 11Now finish doing it, so that your eager willingness to give may be matched by your completion of the gift, according to what you have.Verse 12For if the eager willingness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.Verse 13I do not mean there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a matter of equality. At the present time your abundance should provide for their need,Verse 14so that in turn their abundance may provide for your need, and thus there may be equality.Verse 15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Titus and His Companions
Verse 16But thanks be to God, who has put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care for you that I have.Verse 17For Titus not only accepted our appeal, but with great enthusiasm he is coming to you of his own accord.Verse 18With him we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.Verse 19And not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we administer this gracious gift for the glory of the Lord+himself and to show+our eager willingness to help.Verse 20We are taking this precaution so that no one will discredit us with respect to this large sum that we are administering.Verse 21For we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.Verse 22We are also sending with them our brother whom we have often tested and found to be earnest in many matters, and now he is even more earnest because of his great confidence in you.Verse 23If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service. If there is any question about our brothers, they are delegates of the churches, the glory of Christ.Verse 24Therefore show them in front of all the churches the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.