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
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
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