1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has beenhver. 5 given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy andi[Mark 12:44] their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gavejver. 11; 1 Cor. 16:2 according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, 4 begging us earnestlykch. 9:2; Rom. 15:25, 26; See Acts 24:17 for the favor of taking part inlSee Rom. 15:31 the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but theymver. 1 gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly,nver. 17; ch. 12:18 we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among youover. 19; [ver. 4] this act of grace. 7 But aspSee 1 Cor. 1:5 you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you —qch. 9:8 see that you excel in this act of grace also.
8 r1 Cor. 7:6 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, thatsPhil. 2:6, 7; [ch. 6:10; Matt. 20:28] though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this mattert1 Cor. 7:25 I give my judgment:uDeut. 15:7, 8; Prov. 19:17; 28:27; 1 Tim. 6:18, 19; Heb. 13:16 this benefits you, whovch. 9:2 a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptablew[ch. 9:7; Mark 12:43, 44; Luke 21:3] according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supplyxch. 9:12; [Acts 4:34] their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written,yCited from Ex. 16:18 “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. ”
16 ButzSee ch. 2:14 thanks be to God,aRev. 17:17 who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 Forbver. 6 he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going1Or he went to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending1Or we sent; also verse 22cch. 12:18 the brother who is famous amongdSee 1 Cor. 7:17 all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has beene[1 Cor. 16:3, 4] appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act offver. 6 grace that is being ministered by us,gch. 4:15 for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 forhSee Rom. 12:17 we aim at what is honorablei[Rom. 14:18; Phil. 4:8; 1 Pet. 2:12] not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he isj[Philem. 17] my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and ofkch. 7:4, 14; 9:2, 3 our boasting about you to these men.