2 Cor. 8:1‑9:15• 1Now we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God that is given in f the assemblies of Macedonia;
2that in much trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality;
3because according to power [I bear witness] and beyond power [they gave] of their own accord,
4asking of us with much entreaty the grace and the fellowship of the ministering unto the saints; g
5and this not as we hoped, but their own selves they gave first to the Lord and to us by the will of God;
6so that we exhorted Titus, that, even as he before began, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;
7but as ye abound in everything, faith and word and knowledge and all diligence and love from you to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also.
8I speak not by way of commandment, but through the diligence of others proving the genuineness of your love also.
9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he being rich became poor, in order that ye by his poverty might become rich.
10And I give an opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before not only the doing, but also to be willing a year ago.
11But now also complete the doing, that even as the readiness of the willing [was there], so also the completing [may be] out of what ye have.
12For if the readiness be there, [one is] accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he hath not.
13For [it is] not that others [should have] ease and you distress,
14but on equality: at the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance also should be for your lack, so that there should be equality;
15as it is written, He that [gathered] much had nothing over, and he that [gathered] little had no lack.
16But thanks to God that giveth the same zeal for you in the heart of Titus,
17in that he received indeed the exhortation, but being very zealous of his own accord he set out unto you.
18But we sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel [is] through all the assemblies,
19and not only [so] but also chosen by the assemblies our fellow-traveler with this grace that is being administered by us unto the glory of the Lord [himself] and our readiness;
20guarding against this, lest any should blame us in this abundance that is being administered by us,
21for we provide things honourable not only before [the] Lord but also before men.
22And we have sent with them our brother whom we proved to be zealous many times in many things, but now much more zealous by great confidence that [he hath] in you.
23Whether as regards Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow-labourer toward you; whether our brethren, [they are] messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory.
24The showing forth then of your love and of our boasting for you show forth unto them in the face of the assemblies.
1For about the ministration of the saints it is superfluous for me to write to you.
2For I know your readiness unto which I boast of you to Macedonians that Achaia hath been prepared a year ago, and your zeal stimulated the many.
3Yet I sent the brethren in order that our boasting of you may not be made vain in this respect, that (as I said) ye may be prepared;
4lest haply, if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we may be ashamed, that we say not ye, in this confidence.
5I thought it necessary therefore to exhort the brethren that they would go before unto you and complete beforehand your blessing promised before, that it be ready thus as blessing, not as covetousness.
6But this [I say], he that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth in blessings shall reap also in blessings;
7each as he hath purposed in his heart, not of sorrow or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make every grace abound unto you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in every [thing], may abound unto every good work;
9as it is written, He scattered, he gave to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever.
10But he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for eating will supply and multiply your sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
11ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality which worketh out through us thanksgiving to God.
12Because the ministration of the service is not only filling up the wants of the saints, but also abounding through many thanksgivings to God;
13through the proof of this service glorifying God for the subjection of your confession unto the gospel of Christ and liberality of fellowship toward them and toward all;
14and in their supplication for you, while longing for you, on account of the surpassing grace of God [bestowed] on you.
15Thanks to God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Cor. 8:1‑9:15)