Appeal to Complete the Collection

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches(A) of Macedonia:(B) During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.(C) I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing(D) in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will.(E)

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A Call to Generous Giving

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.[b] They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

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Footnotes

  1. 8:1 Greek brothers.
  2. 8:4 Greek for God’s holy people.