2 Corinthians 8
8
Eagerness to Give
1Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace God has given to Messiah’s communities in Macedonia—
2that in much testing by affliction, the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3For I testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, they gave of their own free will—
4begging us with much urging for the favor of sharing in the relief of the kedoshim.
5Moreover, it was not just as we had hoped, but they gave of themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
6So we urged Titus that, just as he had made a start before, so he should also complete this gracious service for you.
7But as you excel in everything—in faith and speech and knowledge and all diligence, and in your love for us—also excel in this grace.
8I am saying this not as a command, but I am trying to prove by the diligence of others the genuineness of your love as well.
9For you know the grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah—that even though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich.
10Now I give my opinion in this matter, that it is a credit to you that a year ago you were the first to start—not only to do but even to be willing.
11But now finish doing it, so that just as there was eagerness to be willing, so also to finish it, out of what you have.
12For if the eagerness is present, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he doesn’t have.
13For it is not relief for others and hardship for you, but as a matter of equality.
14Your abundance at this present time meets their need, so that their abundance may also meet your need—so that there may be equality.
15As it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”
An Offering by Special Delivery
16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion for you.
17For indeed he not only accepted our appeal, but went to you with eagerness and on his own initiative.
18We are sending along with him the brother whose fame in connection with the Good News has spread throughout all of Messiah’s communities.
19Not only that, but he has also been appointed by the communities as our travel companion with this gracious gift, which is administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
20We are taking this precaution, so that no one will blame us in regard to the way we administer this generous gift.
21We have regard for what is honorable—not only before the Lord, but also before people.
22Also with them we are sending our brother whom we have tested many times and found to be diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are the emissaries of the communities, a glory to Messiah.
24Therefore, before Messiah’s communities show them the proof of your love and of our boasting about you.
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
2 Corinthians 8
8
1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia; 2how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, 4beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints: 5and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. 6Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also. 7But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. 9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich. 10And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will. 11But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. 12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not. 13For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed; 14but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality: 15as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack.
16But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord. 18And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches; 19and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness: 20avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us: 21for we take thought for things honorable, 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 many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he hath in you. 23Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward; or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ. 24Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.
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