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2 Corinthians 5-9
New American Standard Bible

The Temporal and Eternal

5 For we know that if our [a](A)earthly (B)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house (C)not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed, in this tent we (D)groan, longing to be (E)clothed with our [b]dwelling from heaven, 3 since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. 4 For indeed, we who are in this tent (F)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be (G)clothed, so that what is (H)mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who (I)gave us the Spirit as a [c]pledge.

6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that (J)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for (K)we walk by faith, not by [d]sight— 8 but we are of good courage and (L)prefer rather to be absent from the body and (M)to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be (N)pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before (O)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for [e]his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the (P)fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also (Q)well known in your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you (R)again, but are giving you an (S)opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we have (T)lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ (U)controls us, having concluded this, that (V)one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer (W)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one [f](X)by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is (Y)in Christ, this person is (Z)a new [g]creation; (AA)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now (AB)all these things are from God, (AC)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the (AD)ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that (AE)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, (AF)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and [h]He has [i]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are (AG)ambassadors for Christ, (AH)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be (AI)reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who (AJ)knew no sin to be [j](AK)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the (AL)righteousness of God in Him.

Their Ministry Commended

6 And (AM)working together with Him, (AN)we also urge you not to receive (AO)the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says,

“(AP)At a favorable time I listened to you,
And on a day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation”— 3 (AQ)giving no reason for taking offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything (AR)commending ourselves as [k](AS)servants of God, (AT)in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in difficulties, 5 in (AU)beatings, in imprisonments, in (AV)[l]mob attacks, in labors, in sleeplessness, in (AW)hunger, 6 in purity, in (AX)knowledge, in (AY)patience, in kindness, in the (AZ)Holy Spirit, in (BA)genuine love, 7 in (BB)the word of truth, and in (BC)the power of God; by (BD)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and (BE)dishonor, by (BF)evil report and good report; regarded as (BG)deceivers and yet (BH)true; 9 as unknown and yet well known, as (BI)dying and yet behold, (BJ)we are alive; as [m]punished and yet not put to death, 10 as (BK)sorrowful yet always (BL)rejoicing, as (BM)poor yet making many rich, as (BN)having nothing and yet possessing (BO)all things.

11 (BP)Our mouth [n]has spoken freely to you, you Corinthians, our (BQ)heart is opened wide. 12 You are not restrained [o]by us, but (BR)you are restrained in your own [p]affections. 13 Now in the same way in (BS)exchange—I am speaking as to (BT)children—open wide your hearts to us, you as well.

14 (BU)Do not be [q]mismatched with (BV)unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness (BW)share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? 15 Or what (BX)harmony does Christ have with [r]Belial, or [s]what does a (BY)believer share with an (BZ)unbeliever? 16 Or (CA)what agreement does [t]the temple of God have with idols? For we are [u](CB)the temple of (CC)the living God; just as God said,

“(CD)I will (CE)dwell among them and (CF)walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 (CG)Therefore, (CH)come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 (CI)And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be (CJ)sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.

Paul Reveals His Heart

7 Therefore, having these promises, (CK)beloved, (CL)let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 (CM)Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said (CN)before that you are (CO)in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 My (CP)confidence [v]in you is great; my (CQ)boasting in your behalf is great. I am filled with (CR)comfort; I am overflowing with (CS)joy in all our affliction.

5 For even when we came into (CT)Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were (CU)afflicted on every side: (CV)conflicts on the outside, fears inside. 6 But (CW)God, who comforts the [w]discouraged, (CX)comforted us by the arrival of (CY)Titus; 7 and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted among you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For though I (CZ)caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— 9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything [x]through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a (DA)repentance [y]without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this [z]godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what (DB)longing, what zeal, what (DC)punishment of wrong! In everything you (DD)demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 12 So although (DE)I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of (DF)the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness in our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. 13 Because of this, we have been (DG)comforted.

And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of (DH)Titus, because his (DI)spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if I have (DJ)boasted to him about you regarding anything, I was not put to shame. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before (DK)Titus proved to be the truth. 15 His [aa]affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the (DL)obedience of you all, how you received him with (DM)fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice that in everything (DN)I have confidence in you.

Great Generosity

8 Now, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God which has been (DO)given in the churches of (DP)Macedonia, 2 that in a [ab]great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the (DQ)wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that (DR)according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, 4 begging us with much urging for the (DS)favor [ac]of participation in the [ad](DT)support of the [ae]saints, 5 and this, not as we had [af]expected, but they first (DU)gave themselves to the Lord and to us by (DV)the will of God. 6 So we (DW)urged (DX)Titus that as he had previously (DY)made a beginning, so he would also complete in you (DZ)this gracious work as well.

7 But just as you (EA)excel (EB)in everything, in faith, speaking, knowledge, and in all earnestness and in the [ag]love we inspired in you, see that you also (EC)excel in this gracious work. 8 I (ED)am not saying this as a command, but as proving, through the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love as well. 9 For you know (EE)the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that (EF)though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10 I (EG)give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin (EH)a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11 But now finish [ah]doing it also, so that just as there was the (EI)willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. 12 For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable (EJ)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality— 14 at this present time your abundance will serve as assistance for (EK)their need, so that their abundance also may [ai]serve as assistance for (EL)your need, so that there may be equality; 15 as it is written: “(EM)The one who had gathered much did not have too much, and the one who had gathered little did not have too little.”

16 But (EN)thanks be to God who (EO)puts the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of (EP)Titus. 17 For he not only accepted our (EQ)appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. 18 We have sent along with him (ER)the brother whose fame in the things of the (ES)gospel has spread through (ET)all the churches; 19 (EU)and not only that, but he has also been (EV)appointed by the churches to travel with us in (EW)this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our (EX)readiness, 20 [aj]taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; 21 for we (EY)have regard for what is honorable, not only in (EZ)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 (FA)Titus, he is my (FB)partner and fellow worker [ak]among you; as for our (FC)brothers, they are [al](FD)messengers of the churches, (FE)a glory to Christ. 24 Therefore, [am]openly before the churches, [an]show them the proof of your love and of our (FF)reason for boasting about you.

God Gives Most

9 For (FG)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this (FH)ministry to the [ao]saints; 2 for I know your willingness, of which I (FI)boast about you to the (FJ)Macedonians, namely, that (FK)Achaia has been prepared since (FL)last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I have sent the brothers, in order that our (FM)boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, (FN)as I was saying, you will be prepared; 4 otherwise, if any (FO)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 (FP)brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised [ap](FQ)generous gift, that the same would be ready as a [aq](FR)generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.

6 Now I say this: (FS)the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows [ar]generously will also reap [as]generously. 7 Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not (FT)reluctantly or under compulsion, for (FU)God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And (FV)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:

“(FW)He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,
His righteousness [at]endures forever.”

10 Now He who supplies (FX)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and (FY)increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be (FZ)enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing (GA)thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying (GB)the needs of the [au]saints, but is also overflowing (GC)through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this (GD)ministry, they will (GE)glorify God for your obedience to your (GF)confession of the (GG)gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your [av]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 (GH)Thanks be to God for His indescribable (GI)gift!

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:1 Lit earthly house of the tent
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:2 I.e., the resurrected body
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:5 Or first installment
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Or appearance
  5. 2 Corinthians 5:10 Lit the things
  6. 2 Corinthians 5:16 I.e., by what one is in the flesh
  7. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
  8. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit having
  9. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit placed in us
  10. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or a sin offering
  11. 2 Corinthians 6:4 Or ministers
  12. 2 Corinthians 6:5 Lit tumults
  13. 2 Corinthians 6:9 Or disciplined
  14. 2 Corinthians 6:11 Lit is open to you
  15. 2 Corinthians 6:12 Or in us
  16. 2 Corinthians 6:12 Lit inward parts
  17. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Lit unevenly yoked
  18. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Gr Beliar; a name of the devil and the antichrist
  19. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Lit what part has a believer with an unbeliever
  20. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or a temple
  21. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or a temple
  22. 2 Corinthians 7:4 Lit toward
  23. 2 Corinthians 7:6 Or lowly
  24. 2 Corinthians 7:9 Lit from
  25. 2 Corinthians 7:10 Or leading to a salvation without regret
  26. 2 Corinthians 7:11 Lit sorrow according to God
  27. 2 Corinthians 7:15 Lit inward parts
  28. 2 Corinthians 8:2 Or severe test of
  29. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Lit and
  30. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Lit service to the saints
  31. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  32. 2 Corinthians 8:5 Lit hoped
  33. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Lit love from us in you; one early ms love from you in us
  34. 2 Corinthians 8:11 Lit the doing
  35. 2 Corinthians 8:14 Lit become
  36. 2 Corinthians 8:20 Lit avoiding this
  37. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Lit for you
  38. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Lit apostles
  39. 2 Corinthians 8:24 Lit in the face of the churches
  40. 2 Corinthians 8:24 Or show the proof...for boasting about you to them
  41. 2 Corinthians 9:1 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  42. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing
  43. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing
  44. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Lit with blessings
  45. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Lit with blessings
  46. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Lit remains
  47. 2 Corinthians 9:12 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  48. 2 Corinthians 9:13 Or sharing with them
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2 Corinthians 5-9
New International Version

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly(A) tent(B) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan,(C) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(D) 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan(E) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(F) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(G)

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight.(H) 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(I) 9 So we make it our goal to please him,(J) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us(K) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,(L) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.(M) 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,(N) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,(O) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,”(P) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(Q) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves(R) but for him who died for them(S) and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(T) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(U) the new creation(V) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(W) 18 All this is from God,(X) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(Y) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(Z) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(AA) as though God were making his appeal through us.(AB) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(AC) 21 God made him who had no sin(AD) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(AE)

6 As God’s co-workers(AF) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(AG) 2 For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[c](AH)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,(AI) so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments(AJ) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;(AK) 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit(AL) and in sincere love;(AM) 7 in truthful speech(AN) and in the power of God;(AO) with weapons of righteousness(AP) in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor,(AQ) bad report(AR) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;(AS) 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,(AT) and yet we live on;(AU) beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(AV) poor, yet making many rich;(AW) having nothing,(AX) and yet possessing everything.(AY)

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.(AZ) 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children(BA)—open wide your hearts(BB) also.

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together(BC) with unbelievers.(BD) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(BE) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[d]?(BF) Or what does a believer(BG) have in common with an unbeliever?(BH) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(BI) For we are the temple(BJ) of the living God.(BK) As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”[e](BL)

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them(BM)
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”[f](BN)

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,(BO)
says the Lord Almighty.”[g](BP)

7 Therefore, since we have these promises,(BQ) dear friends,(BR) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(BS) out of reverence for God.

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

2 Make room for us in your hearts.(BT) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts(BU) that we would live or die with you. 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.(BV) I am greatly encouraged;(BW) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.(BX)

5 For when we came into Macedonia,(BY) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn(BZ)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.(CA) 6 But God, who comforts the downcast,(CB) comforted us by the coming of Titus,(CC) 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter,(CD) I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation(CE) and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,(CF) what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you,(CG) it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong(CH) nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus(CI) was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you,(CJ) and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus(CK) has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient,(CL) receiving him with fear and trembling.(CM) 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.(CN)

The Collection for the Lord’s People

8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian(CO) churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.(CP) 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,(CQ) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing(CR) in this service(CS) to the Lord’s people.(CT) 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged(CU) Titus,(CV) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion(CW) this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything(CX)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,(CY) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[h]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8 I am not commanding you,(CZ) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace(DA) of our Lord Jesus Christ,(DB) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,(DC) so that you through his poverty might become rich.(DD)

10 And here is my judgment(DE) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.(DF) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(DG) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(DH) not according to what one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(DI) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[i](DJ)

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

16 Thanks be to God,(DK) who put into the heart(DL) of Titus(DM) the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.(DN) 18 And we are sending along with him the brother(DO) who is praised by all the churches(DP) for his service to the gospel.(DQ) 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us(DR) as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.(DS) 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.(DT)

22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus,(DU) he is my partner(DV) and co-worker(DW) among you; as for our brothers,(DX) they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,(DY) so that the churches can see it.

9 There is no need(DZ) for me to write to you about this service(EA) to the Lord’s people.(EB) 2 For I know your eagerness to help,(EC) and I have been boasting(ED) about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year(EE) you in Achaia(EF) were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers(EG) in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.(EH) 4 For if any Macedonians(EI) come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers(EJ) to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift,(EK) not as one grudgingly given.(EL)

Generosity Encouraged

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.(EM) 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,(EN) not reluctantly or under compulsion,(EO) for God loves a cheerful giver.(EP) 8 And God is able(EQ) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,(ER) you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts(ES) to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”[j](ET)

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food(EU) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.(EV) 11 You will be enriched(EW) in every way so that you can be generous(EX) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.(EY)

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs(EZ) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.(FA) 13 Because of the service(FB) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God(FC) for the obedience that accompanies your confession(FD) of the gospel of Christ,(FE) and for your generosity(FF) in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God(FG) for his indescribable gift!(FH)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
  6. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
  7. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
  8. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
  9. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18
  10. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9
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