2 Corinthians 8:16-9:15

New American Standard Bible

¹⁶ But ^(A)thanks be to God who ^(B)puts the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of ^(C)Titus. ¹⁷ For he not only accepted our ^(D)appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. ¹⁸ We have sent along with him ^(E)the brother whose fame in the things of the ^(F)gospel has spread through ^(G)all the churches; ^19 (H)and not only that, but he has also been ^(I)appointed by the churches to travel with us in ^(J)this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our ^(K)readiness, ^20 [a]taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; ²¹ for we ^(L)have regard for what is honorable, not only in ^(M)the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of other people. ²² We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for ^(N)Titus, he is my ^(O)partner and fellow worker ^[b]among you; as for our ^(P)brothers, they are ^[c](Q)messengers of the churches, ^(R)a glory to Christ. ²⁴ Therefore, ^[d]openly before the churches, ^[e]show them the proof of your love and of our ^(S)reason for boasting about you.

God Gives Most

9 For ^(T)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ^(U)ministry to the ^[f]saints; ² for I know your willingness, of which I ^(V)boast about you to the ^(W)Macedonians, namely, that ^(X)Achaia has been prepared since ^(Y)last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. ³ But I have sent the brothers, in order that our ^(Z)boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, ^(AA)as I was saying, you will be prepared; ⁴ otherwise, if any ^(AB)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame by this confidence. ⁵ So I considered it necessary to urge the ^(AC)brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised ^[g](AD)generous gift, that the same would be ready as a ^[h](AE)generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.

⁶ Now I say this: ^(AF)the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows ^[i]generously will also reap ^[j]generously. ⁷ Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not ^(AG)reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^(AH)God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And ^(AI)God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; ⁹ as it is written:

¹⁰ Now He who supplies ^(AK)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^(AL)increase the harvest of your righteousness; ¹¹ you will be ^(AM)enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing ^(AN)thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying ^(AO)the needs of the ^[l]saints, but is also overflowing ^(AP)through many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ Because of the proof given by this ^(AQ)ministry, they will ^(AR)glorify God for your obedience to your ^(AS)confession of the ^(AT)gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your ^[m]contribution to them and to all, ¹⁴ while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. ^15 (AU)Thanks be to God for His indescribable ^(AV)gift!