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
Generosity in Giving
1 Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2that with a great ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extreme depth of their poverty have overflowed to the wealth of their generosity. 3I testify that they gave#*The words “they gave” are not in the Greek text, but are implied according to their ability, and beyond their ability, by their own choice, 4requesting of us with much exhortation the favor and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints, 5and not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, by the will of God. 6So we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun it, thus he would also complete for you this act of grace. 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith and in speaking and in knowledge and with all diligence and in the love from us that is in you—so may you excel in this grace also. 8I am not saying this as a command, but proving the genuineness of your love by means of the diligence of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he#*Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was”) which is understood as concessive was rich, for your sake he became poor, in order that you, by his poverty, may become rich. 10And I am giving an opinion in this matter, because this is profitable for you who not only began previously, a year ago, to do something, but also to want to do it. 11So now also complete the doing of it, in order that just as you have the eagerness to want to do it, thus also you may complete it from what you have. 12For if the eagerness is present according to what one has#Literally “to the degree that if he might have”, it is acceptable not according to what one does not have#Literally “to the degree that he might not have”. 13For this is not that for others there may be relief, and for you difficult circumstances, but as a matter of equality. 14At the present time your abundance will be for their need, in order that their abundance may also be for your need, so that there may be equality, 15just as it is written, “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”#A quotation from Exod 16:18
Arrangements for Administering the Corinthians’ Gift
16But thanks be to God, who has put in the heart of Titus the same devotion on your behalf#Literally “on behalf of you”, 17because he not only welcomed our request, but being very earnest, by his own choice he went out#*Or “he is going out” (if this verb is understood as an epistolary aorist) to you. 18And we have sent at the same time with him the brother whose praise in the gospel has become known throughout all the churches. 19And not only this, but he was also chosen by the churches as our traveling companion together with this gift that is being administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. 20We are trying to avoid this, lest anyone should find fault with us in this abundant gift that is being administered by us. 21For we are taking into consideration what is honorable not only before the Lord, but also before people. 22And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times in many things that he is diligent, but now much more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23If there is a question concerning Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. If there is a question concerning our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24Therefore show to them the proof of your love and our boasting about you openly before#Literally “to the face of” the churches.
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