¹⁰ and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,

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

⁹ And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight^(A)

Thanksgiving

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

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

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have laid hold^[a] of it, but one thing I have laid hold of: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,^{(A) 14} I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly^[b] call of God in Christ Jesus.^{(B) 15} Let those of us, then, who are mature^[c] think this way, and if you think differently about anything, this, too, God will reveal to you.^(C)

⁸ I do not say this as a command, but I am, by mentioning the eagerness of others, testing the genuineness of your love.^{(A) 9} For you know the generous act^[a] of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.^{(B) 10} And in this matter I am giving my opinion: it is beneficial for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something.^(C)

Encouragement to Be Generous

8 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia, ² for during a severe ordeal of affliction their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.^[a]

⁵ because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.^{(A) 6} I pray that the partnership of your faith may become effective as you comprehend all the good that we^[a] share in Christ.^{[b] 7} I have^[c] indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.^(B)