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
1And we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,
2because in much trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, did abound to the riches of their liberality;
3because, according to [their] power, I testify, and above [their] power, they were willing of themselves,
4with much entreaty calling on us to receive the favour and the fellowship of the ministration to the saints,
5and not according as we expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,
6so that we exhorted Titus, that, according as he did begin before, so also he may finish to you also this favour,
7but even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound;
8not according to command do I speak, but because of the diligence of others, and of your love proving the genuineness,
9for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor — being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.
10And an opinion in this do I give: for this to you [is] expedient, who not only to do, but also to will, did begin before — a year ago,
11and now also finish doing [it], that even as [there is] the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which ye have,
12for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;
13for not that for others release, and ye pressured, [do I speak,]
14but by equality, at the present time your abundance — for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,
15according as it hath been written, ‘He who [did gather] much, had nothing over; and he who [did gather] little, had no lack.’
16And thanks to God, who is putting the same diligence for you in the heart of
17because indeed the exhortation he accepted, and being more diligent, of his own accord he went forth unto you,
18and we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the good news [is] through all the assemblies,
19and not only so, but who was also appointed by vote by the assemblies, our fellow-traveller, with this favour that is ministered by us, unto the glory of the same Lord, and your willing mind;
20avoiding this, lest any one may blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,
21providing right things, not only before the Lord, but also before men;
22and we sent with them our brother, whom we proved in many things many times being diligent, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward you,
23whether — about Titus — my partner and towards you fellow-worker, whether — our brethren, apostles of assemblies — glory of Christ;
24the shewing therefore of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf, to them shew ye, even in the face of the assemblies.
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