2 Corinthians 8–9

The Collection for the Lord’s People

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian^a churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.^b For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,^c and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing^d in this service^e to the Lord’s people.^f And they went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us. So we urged^g Titus,^h just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completionⁱ this act of grace on your part. 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—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

I am not commanding you,^l but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 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

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 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. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,^t not according to what one does not have.

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 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, 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.”^v

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

Thanks be to God,^a who put into the heart^b of Titus^c the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.^d And we are sending along with him the brother^e who is praised by all the churches^f for his service to the gospel.^g What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us^h as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.ⁱ We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of others.^j

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. As for Titus,^k he is my partner^l and co-worker^m among you; as for our brothers,ⁿ they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,^o so that the churches can see it.

There is no need^p for me to write to you about this service^q to the Lord’s people.^r For I know your eagerness to help,^s and I have been boasting^t about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year^u you in Achaia^v were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. But I am sending the brothers^w 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.^x For if any Macedonians^y come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers^z 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,^a not as one grudgingly given.^b

Generosity Encouraged

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.^a Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,^b not reluctantly or under compulsion,^c for God loves a cheerful giver.^d And God is able^e to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,^f you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have scattered abroad their gifts^g to the poor;

their righteousness endures forever.”^h

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for foodⁱ will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.^j You will be made rich^k in every way so that you can be generous^l on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.^m

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needsⁿ of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.^o Because of the service^p by which you have proved yourselves, people will praise God^q for the obedience that accompanies your confession^r of the gospel of Christ,^s and for your generosity^t in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God^u for his indescribable gift!^v