2 Corinthians 8
Good News Translation
Christian Giving
8 (A)Our friends, we want you to know what God's grace has accomplished in the churches in Macedonia. 2 They have been severely tested by the troubles they went through; but their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they are very poor. 3 I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. Of their own free will 4 they begged us and pleaded for the privilege of having a part in helping God's people in Judea. 5 It was more than we could have hoped for! First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God's will they gave themselves to us as well. 6 So we urged Titus, who began this work, to continue it and help you complete this special service of love. 7 You are so rich in all you have: in faith, speech, and knowledge, in your eagerness to help and in your love for us.[a] And so we want you to be generous also in this service of love.
8 I am not laying down any rules. But by showing how eager others are to help, I am trying to find out how real your own love is. 9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; rich as he was, he made himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by means of his poverty.
10 My opinion is that it is better for you to finish now what you began last year. You were the first, not only to act, but also to be willing to act. 11 On with it, then, and finish the job! Be as eager to finish it as you were to plan it, and do it with what you now have. 12 If you are eager to give, God will accept your gift on the basis of what you have to give, not on what you don't have.
13-14 I am not trying to relieve others by putting a burden on you; but since you have plenty at this time, it is only fair that you should help those who are in need. Then, when you are in need and they have plenty, they will help you. In this way both are treated equally. 15 (B)As the scripture says, “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
Titus and His Companions
16 How we thank God for making Titus as eager as we are to help you! 17 Not only did he welcome our request; he was so eager to help that of his own free will he decided to go to you. 18 With him we are sending the brother who is highly respected in all the churches for his work in preaching the gospel. 19 And besides that, he has been chosen and appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this service of love for the sake of the Lord's glory and in order to show that we want to help.
20 We are being careful not to stir up any complaints about the way we handle this generous gift. 21 (C)Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.
22 So we are sending our brother with them; we have tested him many times and found him always very eager to help. And now that he has so much confidence in you, he is all the more eager to help. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and works with me to help you; as for the other brothers who are going with him, they represent the churches and bring glory to Christ. 24 Show your love to them, so that all the churches will be sure of it and know that we are right in boasting about you.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 your love for us; some manuscripts have our love for you.
哥林多后书 8
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
当效法马其顿教会乐捐
8 弟兄们，我把神赐给马其顿众教会的恩告诉你们， 2 就是他们在患难中受大试炼的时候，仍有满足的快乐，在极穷之间还格外显出他们乐捐的厚恩。 3 我可以证明他们是按着力量，而且也过了力量，自己甘心乐意地捐助， 4 再三地求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的恩情上有份。 5 并且他们所做的，不但照我们所想望的，更照神的旨意，先把自己献给主，又归附了我们。 6 因此我劝提多，既然在你们中间开办这慈惠的事，就当办成了。 7 你们既然在信心、口才、知识、热心和待我们的爱心上，都格外显出满足来，就当在这慈惠的事上也格外显出满足来。 8 我说这话，不是吩咐你们，乃是借着别人的热心试验你们爱心的实在。
当效基督舍富为贫
9 你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典：他本来富足，却为你们成了贫穷，叫你们因他的贫穷可以成为富足。 10 我在这事上把我的意见告诉你们，是于你们有益；因为你们下手办这事，而且起此心意已经有一年了， 11 如今就当办成这事。既有愿做的心，也当照你们所有的去办成。 12 因为人若有愿做的心，必蒙悦纳，乃是照他所有的，并不是照他所无的。 13 我原不是要别人轻省、你们受累， 14 乃要均平。就是要你们的富余现在可以补他们的不足，使他们的富余将来也可以补你们的不足，这就均平了， 15 如经上所记：“多收的也没有余，少收的也没有缺。”
称赞提多
16 多谢神感动提多的心，叫他待你们殷勤，像我一样。 17 他固然是听了我的劝，但自己更是热心，情愿往你们那里去。 18 我们还打发一位兄弟和他同去，这人在福音上得了众教会的称赞。 19 不但这样，他也被众教会挑选，和我们同行，把所托于我们的这捐资送到了，可以荣耀主，又表明我们乐意的心。 20 这就免得有人因我们收的捐银很多，就挑我们的不是。 21 我们留心行光明的事，不但在主面前，就在人面前也是这样。 22 我们又打发一位兄弟同去；这人的热心，我们在许多事上屡次试验过，现在他因为深信你们就更加热心了。 23 论到提多，他是我的同伴，一同为你们劳碌的；论到那两位兄弟，他们是众教会的使者，是基督的荣耀。 24 所以，你们务要在众教会面前显明你们爱心的凭据，并我所夸奖你们的凭据。
2 Corinthians 8
King James Version
8 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 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.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
2 Corinthians 8
New English Translation
Completing the Collection for the Saints
8 Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters,[a] the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth[b] of their generosity. 3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,[c] 4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping[d] the saints. 5 And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6 Thus[e] we urged[f] Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work,[g] so also he should complete this act of kindness[h] for you. 7 But as you excel[i] in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you[j]—make sure that you excel[k] in this act of kindness[l] too. 8 I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.[m] 9 For you know the grace[n] of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich. 10 So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you[o] made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, 11 to finish what you started,[p] so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly,[q] you can also complete it according to your means.[r] 12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself[s] is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. 14 At the present time, your abundance will meet their need,[t] so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered[u] much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[v]
The Mission of Titus
16 But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion[w] I have for you, 17 because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager,[x] he is coming[y] to you of his own accord.[z] 18 And we are sending[aa] along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel.[ab] 19 In addition,[ac] this brother[ad] has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift[ae] to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help.[af] 20 We did this[ag] as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering. 21 For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men.[ah] 22 And we are sending[ai] with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you. 23 If there is any question[aj] about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers[ak] of the churches, a glory to Christ. 24 Therefore show[al] them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.[am]
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 8:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
- 2 Corinthians 8:2 tn Or “riches.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:3 tn Or “spontaneously.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:4 tn Or “of ministering to.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:6 tn A new sentence was started here in the translation and the word “thus” was supplied to indicate that it expresses the result of the previous clause.
- 2 Corinthians 8:6 tn Or “we exhorted.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:6 tn The words “this work” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted and must be supplied from the context.
- 2 Corinthians 8:6 tn Grk “this grace.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 tn Grk “as you abound.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 tc The reading “the love from us that is in you” is very difficult in this context, for Paul is here enumerating the Corinthians’ attributes: How is it possible for them to excel “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, because of this difficulty, several early scribes, as well as most later ones (א C D F G Ψ [33] M lat), altered the text to read “your love for us” (so NIV; Grk ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ [ex humōn en hēmin agapē]). The reading ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ (ex hēmōn en humin agapē) is found, however, in excellent and early witnesses (P46 B 0243 6 104 630 1175 1739 1881 co). As the harder reading it explains the rise of the other reading. What, then, is the force of “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, Paul is commending the Corinthians for excelling in deriving some inspiration from the apostles’ love for them.
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 tn Grk “you abound.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 tn Grk “this grace.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:8 tn Grk “by means of the eagerness of others.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:9 tn Or “generosity.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:10 tn Grk “who.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “and now also complete the doing.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “just as the eagerness to want [it].”
- 2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “complete from what you have.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:12 tn The words “the gift itself” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Translators often supply an English phrase like “it is” (NASB) but in the context, Paul is clearly referring to the collection Titus was to oversee (2 Cor 8:4-7). Therefore there is no reason not to specify the referent (the gift) more narrowly for clarity.
- 2 Corinthians 8:14 tn Or “their lack.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:15 tn The word “gathered” is not in the Greek text, but is implied (so also for the second occurrence of the word later in the verse).
- 2 Corinthians 8:15 sn A quotation from Exod 16:18.
- 2 Corinthians 8:16 tn Or “eagerness.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:17 tn The comparative form of this adjective is used here with elative meaning.
- 2 Corinthians 8:17 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
- 2 Corinthians 8:17 tn Or “of his own free will.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:18 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
- 2 Corinthians 8:18 tn Grk “the brother of whom the praise in the gospel [is] throughout all the churches.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:19 tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.
- 2 Corinthians 8:19 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Corinthians 8:19 tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.
- 2 Corinthians 8:19 tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).
- 2 Corinthians 8:20 tn “This” refers to sending the brother mentioned in 2 Cor 8:18 to Corinth along with Titus. The words “We did this” have no equivalent in the Greek text, but are necessary to maintain the thought flow in English. The Greek participle that begins v. 20 continues the sentence begun in v. 18 which concerns the sending of the other brother mentioned there.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21 sn An allusion to Prov 3:4.
- 2 Corinthians 8:22 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
- 2 Corinthians 8:23 tn Grk “If concerning Titus” (εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, eite huper Titou); the Greek sentence opens with an ellipsis which must be supplied: If [there is any question] about Titus.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:23 tn Grk “apostles.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:24 tc The sense of this translation is attested by the fact that most of the later mss, along with several early and significant ones (א C D2 Ψ 0225 0243 1739 1881 M lat), have the imperative verb ἐνδείξασθε (endeixasthe) in place of the participle ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi), which is found in B D* F G 33. Since an imperatival participle is more Hebraic in style, many scribes would not have understood the idiom as easily and would have been likely to change the participle to an imperative (so TCGNT 513-14). But there is no good reason why scribes would change the imperative into a participle. Thus, ἐνδεικνύμενοι is almost surely the wording of the original text.tn In the Greek text ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi) is a present participle which is translated as an imperative verb (see BDF §468; ExSyn 650-52).
- 2 Corinthians 8:24 tn Or “our boasting about you.”
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