Macedonia Gave Sacrificially, So We Urged Titus To Go Complete Your Gracious Gift
8 Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God having been granted in the churches of Macedonia[a]— 2 that in a great test of [b] affliction their abundance of joy and their down deep poverty abounded into the riches of their generosity. 3 Because I testify that they gave in accordance with their ability and beyond their ability, of-their-own-accord, 4 with a great appeal begging from us the favor[c] and the partnership[d] in this ministry to the saints— 5 and not as we hoped[e], but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God— 6 so that we urged[f] Titus that just as he previously-began, so also he should complete this grace[g] with reference to you also.
I Urge You To Abound In This Grace of Giving Because It Is Beneficial For You!
7 But just as you are abounding in everything— in faith and speech and knowledge and all earnestness, and in the love from us in you— I urge that you also be abounding in this grace. 8 I am not speaking by way of command, but am proving[h] through the earnestness of others the genuineness of your love also. 9 For you know the grace[i] of our Lord Jesus Christ— that for your sakes He became-poor while being rich, in order that you might become-rich by the poverty of that One. 10 And I am giving an opinion in this matter, for this[j] is beneficial for you, who began-beforehand from last year not only the doing, but the wanting to do. 11 But now indeed complete the doing, so that just as was the eagerness of the wanting, so also may be the completing out of what you have.
A Gift Proportionate To Your Abundance Is Acceptable For Their Need
12 For if the eagerness is there, it [k] is acceptable to whatever degree a person may have, not to-the-degree he does not have. 13 For it is not in order that there may be rest[l] for others, affliction[m] for you, but out of equality[n]— 14 at the present time your abundance[o] being for the need of those ones, in order that the abundance of those ones also may come-to-be for your need, so that there may be equality. 15 Just as it has been written [in Ex 16:18], “The one gathering much did not increase[p], and the one gathering little did not have-less”.
Titus Was Eager To Go To You. So Demonstrate Your Love For All To See
16 Now thanks be to God, the One having given the same[q] earnestness[r] for you in the heart of Titus. 17 Because he welcomed the urging[s]— but being more[t] earnest, went-out[u] to you of-his-own-accord! 18 And we sent with him the brother[v] whose praise in[w] the good-news is through all the churches, 19 and not only this, but who was also appointed[x] by the churches to be our fellow-traveler with this grace-gift being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our eagerness[y]— 20 avoiding this: that anyone should fault[z] us in this abundance being ministered by us. 21 For we are providing-for[aa] good things not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people. 22 And we sent with them our brother whom we often proved in many things as being diligent, but now is much more diligent with great confidence in you. 23 If any ask[ab] about Titus— he is my partner and fellow-worker for you; if as to our brothers[ac]— they are delegates[ad] of the churches, a glory of [ae] Christ. 24 Therefore, be demonstrating[af] to them, to the face[ag] of the churches, the demonstration of your love and our boasting about you.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 8:1 That is, where Paul was laboring at this time, 7:5. The churches we know about in this province are those at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.
- 2 Corinthians 8:2 That is, characterized by.
- 2 Corinthians 8:4 Or, grace.
- 2 Corinthians 8:4 Or, participation.
- 2 Corinthians 8:5 Or, expected.
- 2 Corinthians 8:6 Or, appealed to.
- 2 Corinthians 8:6 Or, grace-gift, act-of-grace.
- 2 Corinthians 8:8 Or, testing, proving-by-test.
- 2 Corinthians 8:9 Or, grace-gift, act-of-grace.
- 2 Corinthians 8:10 That is, this participation in giving.
- 2 Corinthians 8:12 That is, a gift, the concrete expression of your eagerness.
- 2 Corinthians 8:13 Or, relief, abatement, relaxation.
- 2 Corinthians 8:13 Or, pressure, trouble.
- 2 Corinthians 8:13 Or, fairness, equity.
- 2 Corinthians 8:14 Or, surplus, leftovers.
- 2 Corinthians 8:15 That is, beyond their need. Likewise next. The Israelites gathered the same amount of manna for each person; none had an excess or a shortage.
- 2 Corinthians 8:16 That is, the same kind as Paul’s.
- 2 Corinthians 8:16 Or, diligence, eagerness.
- 2 Corinthians 8:17 Or, the appeal. That is, the one mentioned in v 6.
- 2 Corinthians 8:17 That is, more than Paul expected.
- 2 Corinthians 8:17 That is, along with this letter, and the brothers mentioned next.
- 2 Corinthians 8:18 Perhaps Paul is referring to one of those in Act 20:4. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians during Act 20:2.
- 2 Corinthians 8:18 That is, in connection with.
- 2 Corinthians 8:19 Or, chosen, elected.
- 2 Corinthians 8:19 That is, to help those in Jerusalem.
- 2 Corinthians 8:20 Or, blame, criticize.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21 Or, exercising-forethought-for.
- 2 Corinthians 8:23 Paul is giving a written commendation of these men. Titus represents Paul.
- 2 Corinthians 8:23 That is, the ones in v 18 and 22.
- 2 Corinthians 8:23 Or, official representatives, apostles.
- 2 Corinthians 8:23 That is, to; or, proceeding from. This is a second description of these men.
- 2 Corinthians 8:24 That is, through your reception of them and the assembling of your gift with their help.
- 2 Corinthians 8:24 Or, presence. These men represent the churches who sent them.