¹⁰ for that indeed is what ^(A)you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to ^(B)do this more and more,

¹² and may the Lord ^(A)make you increase and abound in love ^(B)for one another and for all, as we do for you,

⁹ And it is my prayer that ^(A)your love may abound more and more, ^(B)with knowledge and all discernment,

Thanksgiving

^3 (A)We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,^[a] as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: ^(A)forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for ^(B)the prize of the upward ^(C)call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let those of us who are ^(D)mature think this way, and if in anything ^(E)you think otherwise, ^(F)God will reveal that also to you.

^8 (A)I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(B)though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. ¹⁰ And in this matter ^(C)I give my judgment: ^(D)this benefits you, who ^(E)a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.

Encouragement to Give Generously

8 We want you to know, brothers,^[a] about the grace of God that has been ^(A)given among the churches of Macedonia, ² 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.

¹⁸ But ^(A)grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ^(B)To him be the glory both now and to the day of ^(C)eternity. Amen.