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2 Corinthians 8
Christian Standard Bible

Appeal to Complete the Collection

8 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches(A) of Macedonia:(B) 2 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) 3 I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, 4 they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing(D) in the ministry to the saints, 5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will.(E) 6 So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace.

7 Now as you excel in everything—in faith, speech, knowledge,(F) and in all diligence, and in your love for us[a]—excel also in this act of grace. 8 I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich,(G) for your sake he became poor,(H) so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10 And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it.(I) 11 Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.(J) 13 It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality.[b] 14 At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality. 15 As it is written: The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little.[c](K)

Administration of the Collection

16 Thanks be to God, who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he welcomed our appeal and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. 18 We have sent with him the brother(L) who is praised among all the churches for his gospel ministry.[d] 19 And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gracious gift that we are administering for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We are taking this precaution so that no one will criticize us about this large sum that we are administering. 21 Indeed, we are giving careful thought(M) to do what is right,(N) not only before the Lord but also before people. 22 We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner(O) and coworker(P) for you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers(Q) of the churches, the glory of Christ.(R) 24 Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting(S) about you.

Footnotes

  1. 8:7 Other mss read in our love for you
  2. 8:13 Lit but from equality
  3. 8:15 Ex 16:18
  4. 8:18 Lit churches, in the gospel
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2 Corinthians 8
New American Standard Bible

Great Generosity

8 Now, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God which has been (A)given in the churches of (B)Macedonia, 2 that in a [a]great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the (C)wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that (D)according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, 4 begging us with much urging for the (E)favor [b]of participation in the [c](F)support of the [d]saints, 5 and this, not as we had [e]expected, but they first (G)gave themselves to the Lord and to us by (H)the will of God. 6 So we (I)urged (J)Titus that as he had previously (K)made a beginning, so he would also complete in you (L)this gracious work as well.

7 But just as you (M)excel (N)in everything, in faith, speaking, knowledge, and in all earnestness and in the [f]love we inspired in you, see that you also (O)excel in this gracious work. 8 I (P)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 (Q)the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that (R)though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10 I (S)give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin (T)a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11 But now finish [g]doing it also, so that just as there was the (U)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 (V)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 (W)their need, so that their abundance also may [h]serve as assistance for (X)your need, so that there may be equality; 15 as it is written: “(Y)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 (Z)thanks be to God who (AA)puts the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of (AB)Titus. 17 For he not only accepted our (AC)appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. 18 We have sent along with him (AD)the brother whose fame in the things of the (AE)gospel has spread through (AF)all the churches; 19 (AG)and not only that, but he has also been (AH)appointed by the churches to travel with us in (AI)this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our (AJ)readiness, 20 [i]taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; 21 for we (AK)have regard for what is honorable, not only in (AL)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 (AM)Titus, he is my (AN)partner and fellow worker [j]among you; as for our (AO)brothers, they are [k](AP)messengers of the churches, (AQ)a glory to Christ. 24 Therefore, [l]openly before the churches, [m]show them the proof of your love and of our (AR)reason for boasting about you.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:2 Or severe test of
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Lit and
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Lit service to the saints
  4. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  5. 2 Corinthians 8:5 Lit hoped
  6. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Lit love from us in you; one early ms love from you in us
  7. 2 Corinthians 8:11 Lit the doing
  8. 2 Corinthians 8:14 Lit become
  9. 2 Corinthians 8:20 Lit avoiding this
  10. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Lit for you
  11. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Lit apostles
  12. 2 Corinthians 8:24 Lit in the face of the churches
  13. 2 Corinthians 8:24 Or show the proof...for boasting about you to them
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2 Corinthians 7
2 Corinthians 9
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