2 Corinthians 7:11-8:14

New King James Version

¹¹ For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what ^(A)clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be ^(B)clear in this matter. ¹² Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, ^(C)but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

The Joy of Titus

¹³ Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit ^(D)has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴ For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. ¹⁵ And his affections are greater for you as he remembers ^(E)the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. ¹⁶ Therefore I rejoice that ^(F)I have confidence in you in everything.

Excel in Giving

8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: ² that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and ^(G)their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. ³ For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, ⁴ imploring us with much urgency ^[a]that we would receive the gift and ^(H)the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. ⁵ And not only as we had hoped, but they first ^(I)gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the ^(J)will of God. ⁶ So ^(K)we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. ⁷ But as ^(L)you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see ^(M)that you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern

^8 (N)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, ^(O)that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become ^(P)rich.

¹⁰ And in this ^(Q)I give advice: ^(R)It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and ^(S)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 ^(T)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.