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2 Corinthians 8
Revised Geneva Translation
2 Corinthians 8
Revised Geneva Translation
8 We also make known to you, brothers, the grace of God bestowed upon the Churches of Macedonia.
2 Because, in great trial of affliction, their joy abounded, and their most extreme poverty abounded unto their rich generosity.
3 For to their power I bear record. Yea, and beyond their power they were willing.
4 And asked us with great instance to receive the grace and fellowship of the ministry which is toward the Saints.
5 And this they did, not as we expected; but gave themselves, first to the Lord, and afterwards to us, by the will of God;
6 that we should exhort Titus to accomplish the same grace among you which he had begun.
7 Therefore, as you abound in everything - in faith and word and knowledge and in all diligence and in your love towards us - see that you also abound in this grace.
8 This I say not by commandment, but because of the diligence of others. Therefore, I prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: that He, being rich, became poor for your sakes. So that you, through his poverty, might be made rich.
10 And in this I give my counsel. For it is profitable for those of you who a year ago began not only to do, but also to will.
11 Now therefore, complete the doing of it also. So that as there was a readiness of will, you may also complete it out of that which you have.
12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted, according to what one has, and not according to what he has not.
13 Nor should others be eased, and you grieved. But out of equality, your abundance supplies their lack at this time.
14 And also their abundance may be for your lack, that there may be equality.
15 As it is written, “He who gathered much, did not abound, and he who gathered little, did not lack.
16 And thanks be to God, Who had put in the heart of Titus the same care for you.
17 Because he accepted the exhortation. Yea, he was so careful, that of his own accord he went to you.
18 And we have also sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches.
19 And not only so but was also chosen by the churches to be a fellow traveler concerning this grace that is ministered by us, to the glory of the same Lord, and the declaration of your eager mind.
20 And so avoiding this: that no one should blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,
21 providing for honest things, not only before the Lord, but also before man.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but who is now much more diligent because of the great confidence in you.
23 And if anyone asks about Titus, he is my partner and helper concerning you; or of our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
24 Therefore, show toward them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of the rejoicing that we have on your behalf.
2 Corinthians 8
New International Version
2 Corinthians 8
New International Version
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(A) churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.(B) 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,(C) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing(D) in this service(E) to the Lord’s people.(F) 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(G) Titus,(H) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion(I) this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything(J)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,(K) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8 I am not commanding you,(L) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace(M) of our Lord Jesus Christ,(N) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,(O) so that you through his poverty might become rich.(P)
10 And here is my judgment(Q) 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.(R) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(S) 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,(T) 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,(U) 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.”[b](V)
Titus Sent to Receive the Collection
16 Thanks be to God,(W) who put into the heart(X) of Titus(Y) 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.(Z) 18 And we are sending along with him the brother(AA) who is praised by all the churches(AB) for his service to the gospel.(AC) 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us(AD) as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.(AE) 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.(AF)
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,(AG) he is my partner(AH) and co-worker(AI) among you; as for our brothers,(AJ) 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,(AK) so that the churches can see it.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
- 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18
Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)
© 2019 by Five Talents Audio
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.