2 Corinthians 8:1–20

Encouragement to Give Generously

8We want you to know, brothers,¹ about the grace of God that has been ^hgiven among the churches of Macedonia, ²for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ⁱtheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³For they gave ^jaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, ⁴begging us earnestly ^kfor the favor² of taking part in ^lthe relief of the saints— ⁵and this, not as we expected, but they ^mgave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ⁶Accordingly, ⁿwe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^othis act of grace. ⁷But as ^pyou excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you³—^qsee that you excel in this act of grace also.

^8rI say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. ⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^sthough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. ¹⁰And in this matter ^tI give my judgment: ^uthis benefits you, who ^va year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. ¹¹So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. ¹²For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable ^waccording to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness ¹⁴your abundance at the present time should supply ^xtheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. ¹⁵As it is written, ^y“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

¹⁶But ^zthanks be to God, ^awho put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. ¹⁷For ^bhe not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going⁴ to you of his own accord. ¹⁸With him we are sending^{5 c}the brother who is famous among ^dall the churches for his preaching of the gospel. ¹⁹And not only that, but he has been ^eappointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of ^fgrace that is being ministered by us, ^gfor the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. ²⁰We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us,