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La ofrenda generosa

Hermanos, ahora queremos que sepan de la oportunidad que han tenido las iglesias de Macedonia de recibir y expresar el generoso amor de Dios. Ellos han pasado por muchos sufrimientos. Viven en la pobreza, pero a pesar de ella y de las dificultades, han sido muy generosos porque están llenos de alegría. Les puedo asegurar que ellos dieron todo voluntariamente, y hasta entregaron más de lo que podían. Incluso, nos han rogado una y otra vez que les demos el privilegio de participar en esta ofrenda para el pueblo de Dios. No dieron simplemente de la manera que esperábamos, sino que primero se entregaron al Señor y luego a nosotros siguiendo la voluntad de Dios. Por eso le rogamos a Tito que terminara de recoger la ofrenda bondadosa de ustedes, ya que él fue quien empezó a recogerla. Ustedes son ricos en todo: en fe, en habilidad para hablar, en conocimientos, en buena voluntad para ayudar y en el amor que han aprendido de nosotros. Por eso esperamos que al ayudar en esta ofrenda bondadosa también demuestren su generosidad.

Pero esto no lo digo como una orden. Lo que quiero es que vean que otros están decididos a ayudar para que así ustedes demuestren que su amor es verdadero. Ustedes conocen el generoso amor de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, quien siendo rico se hizo pobre por ustedes, para que por medio de su pobreza, ustedes se hicieran ricos. 10 Les doy mi consejo sobre este asunto: pienso que ahora les conviene aprovechar esta oportunidad ya que hace un año ustedes fueron los primeros en dar, e incluso fueron los primeros que quisieron hacerlo. 11 Terminen entonces ahora lo que comenzaron y den de lo que tienen. Así demostrarán que la buena voluntad que mostraron al principio era sincera. 12 Si quieren dar, su ofrenda será recibida teniendo en cuenta lo que tienen y no lo que no tienen. 13 No se trata de que ustedes tengan que pasar necesidades por ayudar a otros, sino que haya igualdad para todos. 14 Mi intención es que ustedes, que ahora tienen en abundancia, ayuden a otros que no tienen lo necesario. Luego, cuando a ustedes les falte, otros que tienen en abundancia los ayudarán, y así habrá igualdad para todos. 15 (A)Así dicen las Escrituras:

«Al que recogió mucho, no le sobró;
    y al que recogió poco, no le faltó».[a]

Tito y sus compañeros

16 Doy gracias a Dios porque le dio a Tito los mismos deseos de ayudarlos que tengo yo. 17 Tito hizo todo lo que le pedimos y como estaba tan dispuesto a ayudarlos, se ofreció a ir a visitarlos. 18 Junto con él, enviamos al hermano de quien hablan muy bien en todas las iglesias por su trabajo a favor de las buenas noticias. 19 Además, todas las iglesias eligieron a este hermano para que viajara con nosotros mientras organizamos esta ofrenda. Hacemos esta ofrenda para glorificar al Señor y para demostrar que en realidad queremos ayudar. 20 Hemos sido muy cuidadosos para que nadie nos critique por la manera en que estamos manejando esta ofrenda. 21 Hemos tratado de hacer lo correcto, no sólo ante los ojos del Señor, sino también ante los ojos de la gente.

22 Con ellos también estamos enviando a nuestro hermano que siempre está dispuesto a ayudar y que lo ha demostrado de muchas formas. Él ahora quiere ayudar mucho más porque confía mucho en ustedes. 23 Sobre Tito, les digo que es mi compañero de trabajo y que está trabajando junto a mí para ayudarlos. Sobre los otros hermanos, les puedo decir que son enviados por las iglesias y que también honran a Cristo. 24 Entonces les pido que les den a ellos una demostración de su amor y de la razón por la cual estamos tan orgullosos de ustedes, para que todas las iglesias lo sepan.

Footnotes

  1. 8:15 Cita de Éx 16:18.

Now we make known to you, Achim b’Moshiach, the Chen v’Chesed Hashem that was granted to Moshiach’s Kehillot of Macedonia,

That during a great ordeal of tzoros, their abundant simcha and the extreme depth of their oni (poverty) abounded to the osher (riches) of their generosity [SHEMOT 36:5; Pp 1:29-30; 1Th 1:6; 2:14; 3:3 4];

That according to their ability, I give solemn edut, and ad kdei kach (so much) even beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily and of their own accord,

Begging us, requesting from us the privilege of participating in giving tzedakah to the Messianic Jewish ministry of the Kadoshim [Ro 15:26; Ac 11:29; 2C 9:1]

And this not merely according to tikvateinu. They gave themselves first to Adoneinu and to us [Moshiach’s Shlichim] birtzon Hashem (in the will of G-d),

So that it was necessary for us to urge Titos that as he began and made a haschala (start) before, so he should complete among you also this mitzvah of avodas kodesh of the Chen v’Chesed Hashem.

Now just as you abound in everything‖in emunah, in torah, in da’as [1C 1:5] and in all zerizut (diligence) and in our ahavah (love) for you‖see also that you excel in this Chen v’Chesed Hashem. [1C 16:1 2]

I do not lay this out as a mitzvah, but the sincerity of your ahavah I am testing against the zerizut of others,

For you have da’as of the Chen v’Chesed of Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, who, though being rich, for your sakes, he became poor, [Mt 8:20; Pp 2:6-7] that you by Moshiach’s oni (poverty) may become rich.

10 And in this I give my etza (advice): it is tov me’od that last shanah you were the first not only to give tzedakah but also to be willing to do so.

11 Now also complete what you started! Then your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your finishing it from what you have. [SHEMOT 25:2]

12 For if the readiness is already present, it is acceptable according to whatever one may have‖not according to what one does not have. [MISHLE 3:27-28; Mk 12:43]

13 For it is not that there should be relief to others and distress and tzoros to you, but that there should be a balance of equality

14 During the present time of your abundance for those who lack, and also for your lack there may be their abundance, [2C 9:12] so also there may be equality,

15 As it has been written V’LO HE’DIF HAMARBEH V’HAMMAMIT LO HECHSIR. ("The one that gathered the much did not have too much and the one that gathered little did not have too little” SHEMOT 16:18)

16 But Baruch Hashem, the One having given the same zerizut (diligence) for you in the lev (heart) of Titos,

17 Because of the chozek (encouragement) he received, and having more zerizut on his own accord, he went forth to you.

18 And we sent with him the Ach b’Moshiach who is bavust (famous) among all the Kehillot for his proclaiming the Besuras HaGeulah,

19 And not only this but also this Ach b’Moshiach has been handpicked by the Kehillot to travel with us and with this avodas kodesh of chesed being administered by us to the kavod of Adoneinu Himself and as a gvies eidus (testimony) to your goodwill.

20 Avoiding also that anyone should murmur about our handling of this liberal matanah (gift);

21 For our tachlis is to do what is tov me’od B’EINEI ELOHIM V’ADAM (“in the eyes of G-d and man”). [MISHLE 3:4 TARGUM HASHIVIM]

22 And we sent with them our Ach b’Moshiach whom we have often tested and found having zerizut in much, and now having even more zerizut by his great bitachon in you.

23 As for Titos, he is my shutaf and your fellow po’el in your avodas kodesh; as for our Achim b’Moshiach, they are shlichim of the Kehillot, the kavod of Moshiach.

24 Therefore, openly before the Moshiach’s Kehillot, demonstrate your ahavah and vindicate our glorying about you [2C 7:14].

The Collection for the Lord’s People

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian(A) churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.(B) For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,(C) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing(D) in this service(E) to the Lord’s people.(F) And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 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. 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.

I am not commanding you,(L) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 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