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Generosity Commended
But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia;
But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia;
that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their [free-hearted] liberality.
They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
For according to [their] power, I bear witness, and beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of their own accord,
For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
begging of us with much entreaty [to give effect to] the grace and fellowship of the service which [was to be rendered] to the saints.
And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.
They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;
So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.
but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.
I do not speak as commanding [it], but through the zeal of others, and proving the genuineness of your love.
I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
Christ's Example
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that *ye* by *his* poverty might be enriched.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that *ye* by *his* poverty might be enriched.
You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
And I give [my] opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.
Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it.
But now also complete the doing of it; so that as [there was] the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have.
Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.
For if the readiness be there, [a man is] accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not.
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
For [it is] not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,
Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.
but [on the principle] of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should be equality.
Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.
According as it is written, He who [gathered] much had no excess, and he who [gathered] little was nothing short.
Titus Commended
But thanks [be] to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus.
But thanks [be] to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus.
Titus and His Companions
But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have.
For he received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you;
Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you.
but we have sent with him the brother whose praise [is] in the glad tidings through all the assemblies;
We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News.
and not only [so], but [is] also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and [a witness of] our readiness;
avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance [which is] administered by us;
We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift.
for we provide for things honest, not only before [the] Lord, but also before men.
We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.
And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be of diligent zeal in many things, and now more diligently zealous through the great confidence [he has] as to you.
We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you.
Whether as regards Titus, [he is] my companion and fellow-labourer in your behalf; or our brethren, [they are] deputed messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory.