⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a bountiful gift and not as an extortion.

¹⁷ For he not only accepted our appeal, but since he is more eager than ever, he is going to you of his own accord.

¹² For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.^(A)

³ For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means and even beyond their means, ⁴ begging us earnestly for the favor^[a] of partnering in this ministry to the saints,^(A)

⁹ Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with single mind they had offered freely to the Lord; King David also rejoiced greatly.^(A)