2 Corinthians 8
8
Appeal to Complete the Collection
1We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches # 8:1 Mt 16:18; 1Co 14:4; Rv 1:4 of Macedonia: # 8:1 Ac 16:9 2During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. # 8:2 Php 4:10 3I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, 4they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing # 8:4 Ac 24:17; Rm 15:26,31; 2Co 8:19–20; 9:1,12–13 in the ministry to the saints, 5and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will. # 8:5 Ps 143:10; Pr 16:9; Jn 5:30; Gl 1:4; Eph 1:9; 1Jn 2:17 6So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace.
7Now as you excel in everything — in faith, speech, knowledge, # 8:7 Php 3:8; 1Jn 4:8 and in all diligence, and in your love for us # 8:7 Other mss read in our love for you — excel also in this act of grace. 8I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, # 8:9 Mt 20:28; 2Co 6:10; Php 2:6–7 for your sake he became poor, # 8:9 Php 2:7 so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it. # 8:10 1Co 16:1–4; 2Co 9:1–2 11Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. # 8:12 Lk 21:3 13It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality. # 8:13 Lit but from equality 14At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality. 15As it is written: The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little. # 8:15 Ex 16:18,# 8:15 Ex 16:18
Administration of the Collection
16Thanks be to God, who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. 17For he welcomed our appeal and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. 18We have sent with him the brother # 8:18 2Co 12:18 who is praised among all the churches for his gospel ministry. # 8:18 Lit churches, in the gospel 19And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gracious gift that we are administering for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20We are taking this precaution so that no one will criticize us about this large sum that we are administering. 21Indeed, we are giving careful thought # 8:21 1Tm 5:8 to do what is right, # 8:21 1Pt 2:12 not only before the Lord but also before people. 22We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent — and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner # 8:23 Phm 17 and coworker # 8:23 1Co 3:9 for you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers # 8:23 Jn 13:16 of the churches, the glory of Christ. # 8:23 Mk 10:37 24Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting # 8:24 2Co 12:5; Jms 4:16 about you.
Currently Selected:
2 Corinthians 8: CSB
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
2 Corinthians 8
8
1Now we make known to you, Achim b'Moshiach, the Chen v'Chesed Hashem that was granted to Moshiachʼs Kehillot of Macedonia, 2That during a great ordeal of tzoros, their abundant simcha and the extreme depth of their oni (poverty) abounded to the osher (riches) of their generosity;#8:2 Ex 36:5; Pp 1:29-30; 1Th 1:6; 2:14; 3:3 4 3That according to their ability, I give solemn edut, and ad kdei kach (so much) even beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily and of their own accord, 4Begging us, requesting from us the privilege of participating in giving tzedakah to the Messianic Jewish ministry of the Kedoshim,#8:4 Ro 15:26; Ac 11:29; 2C 9:1 5And this not merely according to tikvateinu. They gave themselves first to Adoneinu and to us#8:5 Moshiachʼs Shlichim birtzon Hashem (in the will of G-d), 6So that it was necessary for us to urge Titos that as he began and made a haschala (start) before, so he should complete among you also this mitzvah of avodas kodesh of the Chen v'Chesed Hashem. 7Now just as you abound in everything — in emunah, in torah, in da'as#8:7 1C 1:5 and in all zerizut (diligence) and in our ahavah (love) for you — see also that you excel in this Chen v'Chesed Hashem.#8:7 1C 16:1-2
8I do not lay this out as a mitzvah, but the sincerity of your ahavah I am testing against the zerizut of others, 9For you have da'as of the Chen v'Chesed of Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, who, though being rich, for your sakes, he became poor,#8:9 Mt 8:20; Pp 2:6-7 that you by Moshiachʼs oni (poverty) may become rich. 10And in this I give my etza (advice): it is tov me'od that last shanah you were the first not only to give tzedakah but also to be willing to do so. 11Now also complete what you started! Then your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your finishing it from what you have.#8:11 Ex 25:2 12For if the readiness is already present, it is acceptable according to whatever one may have — not according to what one does not have.#8:12 Prov 3:27-28; Mk 12:43 13For it is not that there should be relief to others and distress and tzoros to you, but that there should be a balance of equality, 14During the present time of your abundance for those who lack, and also for your lack there may be their abundance,#8:14 2C 9:12 so also there may be equality, 15As it has been written, V'LO HE'DIF HAMARBEH V'HAMMAMIT LO HECHSIR#8:15 Ex 16:18 (The one that gathered the much did not have too much and the one that gathered little did not have too little).
16But Baruch Hashem, the One having given the same zerizut (diligence) for you in the lev (heart) of Titos, 17Because of the chozek (encouragement) he received, and having more zerizut on his own accord, he went forth to you. 18And we sent with him the Ach b'Moshiach who is bavust (famous) among all the Kehillot for his proclaiming the Besuras HaGeulah, 19And not only this but also this Ach b'Moshiach has been handpicked by the Kehillot to travel with us and with this avodas kodesh of chesed being administered by us to the kavod of Adoneinu Himself and as a gvies eidus (testimony) to your goodwill. 20Avoiding also that anyone should murmur about our handling of this liberal matanah (gift); 21For our tachlis is to do what is tov me'od B'EINEI ELOHIM V'ADAM (in the eyes of G-d and man).#8:21 Prov 3:4 TARGUM HASHIVIM 22And we sent with them our Ach b'Moshiach whom we have often tested and found having zerizut in much, and now having even more zerizut by his great bitachon in you. 23As for Titos, he is my shutaf and your fellow po'el in your avodas kodesh; as for our Achim b'Moshiach, they are shlichim of the Kehillot, the kavod of Moshiach. 24Therefore, openly before the Moshiachʼs Kehillot, demonstrate your ahavah and vindicate our glorying about you.#8:24 2C 7:14
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
FOURTH EDITION REVISED © Artists For Israel Intl Inc., 2002-2011, 2021, 2024.