Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

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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 exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

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Encouragement to Give Generously

We want you to know, brothers,[a] about the grace of God that has been (A)given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and (B)their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave (C)according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly (D)for the favor[b] of taking part in (E)the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they (F)gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:1 Or brothers and sisters
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context

Appeal to Complete the Collection

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches(A) of Macedonia:(B) During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.(C) I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing(D) in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will.(E)

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Great Generosity

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been (A)given in the churches of (B)Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the (C)wealth of their liberality. For I testify that (D)according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the (E)favor [a]of participation in the [b](F)support of the [c]saints, and this, not as we had [d]expected, but they first (G)gave themselves to the Lord and to us by (H)the will of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Lit and
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Lit service to the saints
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Or holy ones
  4. 2 Corinthians 8:5 Lit hoped