2 Corinthians 8 | Strong's Bible

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Chapter 1 Chapter 2

CHAPTER 8

Now,

brothers,

we want you to know about

the

grace

God

has given

the

churches

of Macedonia.

In

the terrible

ordeal

they suffered,

their

abundant

joy

and

deep

poverty

overflowed

into

rich

generosity.

For

I testify that

they gave according to

their ability

and even

beyond

it.

Of their own accord,

they pleaded

earnestly

for the

privilege

of sharing

in this

service

to

the

saints.

And

not only

did they do as

we expected,

but

they gave

themselves

first

to the

Lord

and then

to us,

because it was

the will

of God.

So

we

urged

Titus

to help complete

your

act of

grace,

just as

he had started it.

But

just as

you excel

in

everything—

in faith,

in speech,

in knowledge,

in

complete

earnestness,

and

in the

love

we

inspired

in

you—

see that

you also excel

in

this

grace of giving.

I am not making

a demand,

but

I am testing

the

sincerity

of your

love

in comparison to

the

earnestness

of others.

For

you know

the

grace

of our

Lord

Jesus

Christ,

that

though He was

rich,

yet for your sakes

He became poor,

so that

you

through His

poverty

might become rich.

And

this

is my opinion

about

what is helpful

for you

in

this matter:

Last year

you were

the first

not

only

to give,

but

even

to have such a desire.

Now

finish

the work,

so that

you may complete it

just as

eagerly

as you began,

according to

your

means.

For

if

the

eagerness

is there,

the gift is acceptable

according to

what

one has,

not

according to

what he does not have.

It is not our intention

that

others

may be relieved

while you

are burdened,

but

that there may be

equality.

At

the

present

time,

your

surplus

will meet

their

need,

so that

in turn

their

surplus

will

meet

your

need.

Then

there will be

equality.

As

it is written:

“He who gathered

much

had no excess,

and

he who gathered

little

had no shortfall.”

But

thanks be

to God,

who

put

into

the

heart

of Titus

the

same

devotion

I have for

you.

For

not only

did he welcome

our

appeal,

but

he

is eagerly

coming

to

you

of his own volition.

Along with

Titus,

we are sending

the

brother

who

is praised

by

all

the

churches

for his work in

the

gospel.

More than that,

this brother was chosen

by

the

churches

to accompany

us

with

the offering—

the

gracious gift

we

administer

to

honor

the

Lord

Himself

and to show

our

eagerness to help.

We hope to avoid

any

criticism

of

the way

we

administer

this

generous gift .

For

we are taking great care to do

what is right,

not

only

in the eyes

of the Lord,

but

also

in the eyes

of men.

And

we are sending along with them

our

brother,

whose

earnestness

has been proven

many times

and in

many ways,

and

now

even

more

so

by his great confidence

in

you.

As for

Titus,

he is my

partner

and

fellow worker

among

you.

As for

our

brothers,

they are messengers

of the churches

to the glory

of Christ.

In

full view

of the

churches,

then,

show

these men

the

proof

of

your

love

and

the reason for our boasting

about

you.

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