Administering the Gift

9 Now concerning ^(A)the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

A Brotherly and Orderly Life

⁹ But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for ^(A)you yourselves are taught by God ^(B)to love one another; ¹⁰ and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, ^(C)that you increase more and more;

^10 (A)Therefore, as we have opportunity, ^(B)let us do good to all, ^(C)especially to those who are of the household of faith.

⁴ imploring us with much urgency ^[a]that we would receive the gift and ^(A)the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. ⁵ And not only as we had hoped, but they first ^(B)gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the ^(C)will of God. ⁶ So ^(D)we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. ⁷ But as ^(E)you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see ^(F)that you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern

^8 (G)I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(H)that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become ^(I)rich.

¹⁰ And in this ^(J)I give advice: ^(K)It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and ^(L)were desiring to do a year ago; ¹¹ but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. ¹² For ^(M)if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

¹³ For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; ¹⁴ but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. ¹⁵ As it is written, ^(N)“He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

²⁷ But the ^(A)anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and ^(B)you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing ^(C)teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you ^[a]will abide in Him.

The Day of the Lord

5 But concerning ^(A)the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

¹⁰ They desired only that we should remember the poor, ^(A)the very thing which I also was eager to do.

¹² For the administration of this service not only ^(A)supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³ while, through the proof of this ministry, they ^(B)glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal ^(C)sharing with them and all men, ¹⁴ and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding ^(D)grace of God in you.

The Glories of the Messiah and His Bride

To the Chief Musician. ^(A)Set to ^[a]“The Lilies.” A ^[b]Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.