Shared Word Translation
2 Corinthians 8
The Grace of Giving
We make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, that in a severe testing of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in the wealth of their generosity.
For according to their means, I can testify, and beyond their means, they gave of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of participating in the ministry to the holy ones, and this not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by the will of God.
So we urged Titus that as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this gracious work. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in the love we have awakened in you—see that you abound in this gracious work also.
The Example of Christ
I say this not as a command, but to test the genuineness of your love by the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago began not only to do this but also to desire it. So now complete the doing of it, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by completion according to what you have.
For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. For I do not mean that others should be relieved and you burdened, but that there may be equality. At the present time your abundance meets their need, so that their abundance may also meet your need, that there may be equality.
As it is written,
“The one who gathered much had nothing left over,
and the one who gathered little had no lack.”
Commendation of Titus and His Companions
But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he went to you of his own accord.
With him we are sending the brother who is praised among all the churches for his work in the good news, and not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness.
We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of others.
And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now even more earnest because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your sake; and as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
Therefore show them the proof of your love and of our boasting about you before the churches.