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2 Corinthians 8-9
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

Macedonia Gave Sacrificially, So We Urged Titus To Go Complete Your Gracious Gift

8 Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God having been granted in the churches of Macedonia[a]— 2 that in a great test of [b] affliction their abundance of joy and their down deep poverty abounded into the riches of their generosity. 3 Because I testify that they gave in accordance with their ability and beyond their ability, of-their-own-accord, 4 with a great appeal begging from us the favor[c] and the partnership[d] in this ministry to the saints— 5 and not as we hoped[e], but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God— 6 so that we urged[f] Titus that just as he previously-began, so also he should complete this grace[g] with reference to you also.

I Urge You To Abound In This Grace of Giving Because It Is Beneficial For You!

7 But just as you are abounding in everything— in faith and speech and knowledge and all earnestness, and in the love from us in you— I urge that you also be abounding in this grace. 8 I am not speaking by way of command, but am proving[h] through the earnestness of others the genuineness of your love also. 9 For you know the grace[i] of our Lord Jesus Christ— that for your sakes He became-poor while being rich, in order that you might become-rich by the poverty of that One. 10 And I am giving an opinion in this matter, for this[j] is beneficial for you, who began-beforehand from last year not only the doing, but the wanting to do. 11 But now indeed complete the doing, so that just as was the eagerness of the wanting, so also may be the completing out of what you have.

A Gift Proportionate To Your Abundance Is Acceptable For Their Need

12 For if the eagerness is there, it [k] is acceptable to whatever degree a person may have, not to-the-degree he does not have. 13 For it is not in order that there may be rest[l] for others, affliction[m] for you, but out of equality[n]— 14 at the present time your abundance[o] being for the need of those ones, in order that the abundance of those ones also may come-to-be for your need, so that there may be equality. 15 Just as it has been written [in Ex 16:18], “The one gathering much did not increase[p], and the one gathering little did not have-less”.

Titus Was Eager To Go To You. So Demonstrate Your Love For All To See

16 Now thanks be to God, the One having given the same[q] earnestness[r] for you in the heart of Titus. 17 Because he welcomed the urging[s]— but being more[t] earnest, went-out[u] to you of-his-own-accord! 18 And we sent with him the brother[v] whose praise in[w] the good-news is through all the churches, 19 and not only this, but who was also appointed[x] by the churches to be our fellow-traveler with this grace-gift being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our eagerness[y]— 20 avoiding this: that anyone should fault[z] us in this abundance being ministered by us. 21 For we are providing-for[aa] good things not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people. 22 And we sent with them our brother whom we often proved in many things as being diligent, but now is much more diligent with great confidence in you. 23 If any ask[ab] about Titus— he is my partner and fellow-worker for you; if as to our brothers[ac]— they are delegates[ad] of the churches, a glory of [ae] Christ. 24 Therefore, be demonstrating[af] to them, to the face[ag] of the churches, the demonstration of your love and our boasting about you.

For I Have Boasted of Your Eagerness To Others, So I Want You Ready When I Come

9 For indeed, it is superfluous for me to write to you concerning the ministry[ah] to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness, which I am boasting about you to the Macedonians— that “Achaia has been prepared [to give] since last year”. And your zeal stirred-up the majority. 3 But I sent the brothers in order that our boast about you might not be made-empty in this respect: in order that, just as I was saying, you may be prepared, 4 that we should not somehow be put-to-shame (that I not say you) in this confidence[ai] if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared. 5 Therefore I regarded it necessary to urge the brothers that they go-ahead to you and prepare-beforehand your previously-promised blessing[aj], that this may be ready thus as a blessing and not as greediness[ak].

Sow For Blessings, As You Freely Choose In Your Hearts: God Loves a Cheerful Giver

6 Now this[al] I say: the one sowing sparingly will also reap sparingly. And the one sowing for[am] blessings will also reap for blessings. 7 Each should give just as he has chosen-beforehand[an] in his heart— not out of grief [ao] or out of compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to cause all grace to abound to you in order that in everything, always having all sufficiency, you may be abounding for every good work. 9 Just as it has been written [in Ps 112:9], “He scattered, he gave to the needy ones, his righteousness remains forever”.

God Will Multiply Your Seed And Fruit, And Your Gift Will Abound To His Glory

10 And the One supplying seed to the one sowing[ap], and bread for eating, will supply and multiply your seed, and will grow the fruits of [aq] your righteousness. 11 In everything you will be enriched for all generosity, which through[ar] us is going to produce thanksgiving to God, 12 because the ministry of [as] this service[at] is not only going to be filling-up the needs of the saints, but also abounding through many thanksgivings to God! 13 Through the approvedness of this ministry, they will be glorifying God for the obedience of [au] your confession to[av] the good-news of Christ, and the generosity[aw] of the contribution for them and for all, 14 while they also are yearning-for you in prayer for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift[ax].

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:1 That is, where Paul was laboring at this time, 7:5. The churches we know about in this province are those at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:2 That is, characterized by.
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Or, grace.
  4. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Or, participation.
  5. 2 Corinthians 8:5 Or, expected.
  6. 2 Corinthians 8:6 Or, appealed to.
  7. 2 Corinthians 8:6 Or, grace-gift, act-of-grace.
  8. 2 Corinthians 8:8 Or, testing, proving-by-test.
  9. 2 Corinthians 8:9 Or, grace-gift, act-of-grace.
  10. 2 Corinthians 8:10 That is, this participation in giving.
  11. 2 Corinthians 8:12 That is, a gift, the concrete expression of your eagerness.
  12. 2 Corinthians 8:13 Or, relief, abatement, relaxation.
  13. 2 Corinthians 8:13 Or, pressure, trouble.
  14. 2 Corinthians 8:13 Or, fairness, equity.
  15. 2 Corinthians 8:14 Or, surplus, leftovers.
  16. 2 Corinthians 8:15 That is, beyond their need. Likewise next. The Israelites gathered the same amount of manna for each person; none had an excess or a shortage.
  17. 2 Corinthians 8:16 That is, the same kind as Paul’s.
  18. 2 Corinthians 8:16 Or, diligence, eagerness.
  19. 2 Corinthians 8:17 Or, the appeal. That is, the one mentioned in v 6.
  20. 2 Corinthians 8:17 That is, more than Paul expected.
  21. 2 Corinthians 8:17 That is, along with this letter, and the brothers mentioned next.
  22. 2 Corinthians 8:18 Perhaps Paul is referring to one of those in Act 20:4. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians during Act 20:2.
  23. 2 Corinthians 8:18 That is, in connection with.
  24. 2 Corinthians 8:19 Or, chosen, elected.
  25. 2 Corinthians 8:19 That is, to help those in Jerusalem.
  26. 2 Corinthians 8:20 Or, blame, criticize.
  27. 2 Corinthians 8:21 Or, exercising-forethought-for.
  28. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Paul is giving a written commendation of these men. Titus represents Paul.
  29. 2 Corinthians 8:23 That is, the ones in v 18 and 22.
  30. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Or, official representatives, apostles.
  31. 2 Corinthians 8:23 That is, to; or, proceeding from. This is a second description of these men.
  32. 2 Corinthians 8:24 That is, through your reception of them and the assembling of your gift with their help.
  33. 2 Corinthians 8:24 Or, presence. These men represent the churches who sent them.
  34. 2 Corinthians 9:1 That is, the details of this ministry to the saints in Jerusalem. There is no need to promote this ministry.
  35. 2 Corinthians 9:4 Or, project, undertaking.
  36. 2 Corinthians 9:5 That is, blessing for those in Jerusalem.
  37. 2 Corinthians 9:5 That is, as an exhibit of your blessing them by giving, and not as an exhibit of your greediness in withholding what you promised.
  38. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Or, Now as to this giving.
  39. 2 Corinthians 9:6 That is, for the purpose of.
  40. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Or, preferred, purposed.
  41. 2 Corinthians 9:7 That is, a heart grieving or pained over the loss of the money.
  42. 2 Corinthians 9:10 sowing... multiply. Or, sowing, will both supply bread for eating and multiply.
  43. 2 Corinthians 9:10 That is, consisting of; or, proceeding from.
  44. 2 Corinthians 9:11 That is, through our delivery of your gift.
  45. 2 Corinthians 9:12 That is, consisting of.
  46. 2 Corinthians 9:12 That is, public-service for God (for the believing public); or, priestly-service.
  47. 2 Corinthians 9:13 That is, proceeding from; or, to. Or, the obedience to the good news of Christ characterizing your confession.
  48. 2 Corinthians 9:13 Or, with reference to.
  49. 2 Corinthians 9:13 Or, more broadly, the sincerity of the fellowship toward them and toward all.
  50. 2 Corinthians 9:15 That is, gift of grace, referring either to that given in His Son, the model of all giving, or to the gift of grace enabling the Corinthians to abound (as in 8:1); or, to the anticipated result of the gift given by them.
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2 Corinthians 8-9
New International Version

The Collection for the Lord’s People

8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian(A) churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.(B) 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,(C) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing(D) in this service(E) to the Lord’s people.(F) 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged(G) Titus,(H) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion(I) this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything(J)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,(K) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8 I am not commanding you,(L) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace(M) of our Lord Jesus Christ,(N) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,(O) so that you through his poverty might become rich.(P)

10 And here is my judgment(Q) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.(R) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(S) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(T) not according to what one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(U) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 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.”[b](V)

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

16 Thanks be to God,(W) who put into the heart(X) of Titus(Y) the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.(Z) 18 And we are sending along with him the brother(AA) who is praised by all the churches(AB) for his service to the gospel.(AC) 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us(AD) as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.(AE) 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.(AF)

22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus,(AG) he is my partner(AH) and co-worker(AI) among you; as for our brothers,(AJ) they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,(AK) so that the churches can see it.

9 There is no need(AL) for me to write to you about this service(AM) to the Lord’s people.(AN) 2 For I know your eagerness to help,(AO) and I have been boasting(AP) about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year(AQ) you in Achaia(AR) were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers(AS) in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.(AT) 4 For if any Macedonians(AU) come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers(AV) to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift,(AW) not as one grudgingly given.(AX)

Generosity Encouraged

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.(AY) 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,(AZ) not reluctantly or under compulsion,(BA) for God loves a cheerful giver.(BB) 8 And God is able(BC) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,(BD) you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts(BE) to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”[c](BF)

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food(BG) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.(BH) 11 You will be enriched(BI) in every way so that you can be generous(BJ) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.(BK)

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs(BL) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.(BM) 13 Because of the service(BN) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God(BO) for the obedience that accompanies your confession(BP) of the gospel of Christ,(BQ) and for your generosity(BR) in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God(BS) for his indescribable gift!(BT)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18
  3. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9
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