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2 Corinthians 8
International Standard Version

The Collection for the Christians in Jerusalem

8 We want you to know, brothers, about God’s grace that was given to the churches of Macedonia. 2 In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous. 3 I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability. 4 They begged us earnestly for the privilege[a] of participating in this ministry to the saints. 5 We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God’s will. 6 So we urged Titus to finish this work of kindness[b] among you in the same way that he had started it. 7 Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness.[c]

8 I am not commanding you but testing the genuineness of your love by the enthusiasm of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[d] Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.

10 I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started to do it. 11 Now finish what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness[e] to complete it. 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift[f] is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.

13 Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness. 14 At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair. 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.”[g]

Titus and His Companions

16 But thanks be to God, who placed in the heart of Titus the same dedication to you that I have. 17 He welcomed my request and eagerly went to visit you by his own free will. 18 With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for spreading the gospel.[h] 19 More than that, he has also been selected by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this work of kindness[i] for the glory of the Lord and as evidence of our eagerness to help.[j] 20 We are trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this great undertaking. 21 We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people.

22 We have also sent with them our brother whom we have often tested in many ways and found to be dedicated. At present he is more dedicated than ever because he has so much confidence in you.

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker on your behalf. Our brothers, emissaries[k] from the churches, are bringing glory to the Messiah.[l] 24 Therefore, demonstrate to the churches that you love them and show them publicly why we boast about you.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:4 Or for the grace
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:6 Or this grace
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Or this grace
  4. 2 Corinthians 8:9 Or Christ
  5. 2 Corinthians 8:11 Lit. matched as you contribute from what you have
  6. 2 Corinthians 8:12 Lit. it
  7. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exod 16:18
  8. 2 Corinthians 8:18 Lit. in the gospel
  9. 2 Corinthians 8:19 Or this grace
  10. 2 Corinthians 8:19 The Gk. lacks to help
  11. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Or apostles
  12. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Or Christ
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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

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18
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2 Corintieni 8
Nouă Traducere În Limba Română

Încurajarea generozităţii

8 Vreau să ştiţi, fraţilor, despre harul pe care Dumnezeu l-a dat în bisericile din Macedonia, 2 pentru că, fiind încercaţi deosebit de mult prin necazuri, bucuria lor abundentă şi marea lor sărăcie au rezultat într-o manifestare de har abundentă. 3 Eu depun mărturie că ei au dat din proprie iniţiativă, după puterea lor şi chiar dincolo de puterea lor, 4 rugându-ne cu multă insistenţă pentru harul de a fi părtaşi la această slujire pentru sfinţi, 5 şi nu aşa cum ne-am aşteptat, ci s-au dedicat pe ei înşişi, mai întâi Domnului, iar apoi, prin voia lui Dumnezeu, nouă. 6 Astfel, l-am îndemnat pe Titus, pentru că el a început mai devreme această lucrare, să ducă la capăt această binefacere a harului din partea voastră. 7 Acum, aşa cum vă distingeţi în toate – în credinţă, în vorbire, în cunoaştere, într-o dedicare totală şi în dragostea pe care aţi învăţat-o de la noi – să vă distingeţi şi în această binefacere a harului.

8 Nu vă spun aceasta ca pe o poruncă, ci verific, prin dedicarea altora, cât de adevărată este dragostea voastră. 9 Voi cunoaşteţi harul Domnului nostru Isus Cristos, Care, deşi a fost bogat, de dragul vostru a devenit sărac, pentru ca voi să vă îmbogăţiţi prin sărăcia Lui. 10 Vă dau sfatul meu, pentru ceea ce este cel mai bine pentru voi în această problemă: anul trecut aţi fost primii nu doar în a face, ci şi în a dori să faceţi; 11 acum deci terminaţi lucrarea, pentru ca, tot aşa cum aţi dorit, tot astfel să şi daţi, după posibilităţile pe care le aveţi. 12 Dacă există dorinţă, darul este primit potrivit cu ceea ce are cineva, nu cu ceea ce nu are. 13 Aceasta nu este pentru ca alţii să fie uşuraţi, iar voi să fiţi împovăraţi, ci pentru a fi egalitate. 14 Abundenţa pe care voi o aveţi acum îi poate ridica pe cei care sunt în nevoi, pentru ca, la rândul lor, abundenţa lor să împlinească nevoia voastră. Astfel, va fi egalitate, 15 aşa cum este scris:

„Celui ce a adunat mai mult, nu i-a rămas în plus,
    iar cel ce a adunat mai puţin n-a dus lipsă.“[a]

Misiunea lui Titus

16 Îi sunt recunoscător lui Dumnezeu, Care a pus în inima lui Titus aceeaşi dedicare pentru voi pe care o am şi eu. 17 Căci el nu numai că a primit bine apelul vostru, ci vine acum la voi din proprie iniţiativă şi cu mai mult entuziasm decât oricând. 18 Împreună cu el vi-l trimit şi pe fratele care este lăudat de toate bisericile, datorită Evangheliei. 19 Nu doar atât, dar el a fost desemnat de biserici să călătorească împreună cu noi în timp ce administrăm această binefacere a harului, pentru slava Domnului Însuşi şi pentru a ne arăta bunăvoinţa. 20 Suntem atenţi, ca să nu stârnim vreo plângere cu privire la modul în care administrăm acest dar generos. 21 Căci avem grijă să facem ceea ce este bine nu doar înaintea Domnului, ci şi înaintea oamenilor. 22 Îl trimitem pe fratele nostru cu ei – frate pe care deseori l-am pus la încercare şi l-am găsit dedicat, dar care acum este mai dedicat decât oricând – pentru că are mare încredere în voi. 23 În ce-l priveşte pe Titus, el este părtaş şi conlucrător cu mine pentru voi. În ce-i priveşte pe fraţii noştri, ei sunt trimişi ai bisericii, slava lui Cristos. 24 De aceea, în mod deschis, înaintea bisericilor, arătaţi-le dovada dragostei voastre şi motivul nostru de laudă cu privire la voi.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corintieni 8:15 Vezi Ex. 16:18
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2 Corinthians 7
2 Corinthians 9
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