2 Corinthians 8

A Call to Generous Giving

1Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,#8:1 Greek brothers. what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2They 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.

3For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.#8:4 Greek for God’s holy people. 5They 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.

6So 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. 7Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us#8:7 Some manuscripts read your love for us.—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

8I 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.

9You 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.

10Here 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. 11Now 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. 12Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13Of 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. 14Right 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. 15As the Scriptures say,

“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,

and those who gathered only a little had enough.”#8:15 Exod 16:18.

Titus and His Companions

16But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. 17Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. 18We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. 19He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem#8:19 See 1 Cor 16:3-4.—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help.

20We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 21We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.

22We 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. 23If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches,#8:23 Greek are apostles of the churches. and they bring honor to Christ. 24So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.

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II Corinthians 8

Excel in Giving

1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and #Mark 12:44their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and #Acts 11:29; 24:17; Rom. 15:25, 26; 1 Cor. 16:1, 3, 4; 2 Cor. 9:1the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first #(Rom. 12:1, 2)gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the #(Eph. 6:6)will of God. 6So #2 Cor. 8:17; 12:18we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7But as #(1 Cor. 1:5; 12:13)you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see #2 Cor. 9:8that you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern

8#1 Cor. 7:6I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, #Matt. 8:20; Luke 9:58; Phil. 2:6, 7that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become #Rom. 9:23; (Eph. 1:7; Rev. 3:18)rich.

10And in this #1 Cor. 7:25, 40I give advice: #(Prov. 19:17; Matt. 10:42; 1 Tim. 6:18, 19; Heb. 13:16)It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and #1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:2were desiring to do a year ago; 11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12For #Mark 12:43, 44; Luke 21:3, 4; 2 Cor. 9:7if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15As it is written, #Ex. 16:18“He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Collection for the Judean Saints

16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18And we have sent with him #1 Cor. 16:3; 2 Cor. 12:18the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19and not only that, but who was also #Acts 14:23; 1 Cor. 16:3, 4chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us #2 Cor. 4:15to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— 21#Rom. 12:17; Phil. 4:8; 1 Pet. 2:12providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23If anyone inquires about #2 Cor. 7:13, 14Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are #(John 13:16); Phil. 2:25messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our #2 Cor. 7:4, 14; 9:2boasting on your behalf.

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