2 Corinthians 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.

¹³[It 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.