Dual Panel1Now we make known <1107> to you <5213>, brothers and sisters <80>, the grace <5485> of God <2316> given <1325> to the churches <1577> of Macedonia <3109>,
2that <3754> during <1722> a severe <4183> ordeal <1382> of suffering <2347>, their <846> abundant <4050> joy <5479> and <2532> their <846> extreme <899> poverty <4432> have overflowed <4052> in <1519> the wealth <4149> of their <846> generosity <572>.
3For <3754> I testify <3140>, they gave according to <2596> their means <1411> and <2532> beyond <3844> their means <1411>. They did so voluntarily <830>,
4begging <1189> us <2257> with <3326> great <4183> earnestness <3874> for the blessing <5485> and <2532> fellowship <2842> of helping <1248> the saints <40>.
5And <2532> they did this not <3756> just as <2531> we had hoped <1679>, but <235> they gave <1325> themselves <1438> first <4412> to the Lord <2962> and <2532> to us <2254> by <1223> the will <2307> of God <2316>.
6Thus <1519> we <2248> urged <3870> Titus <5103> that <2443>, just as <2531> he had previously begun <4278> this work, so <3779> also <2532> he should complete <2005> this <3778> act of kindness <5485> for <1519> you <5209>.
7But <235> as <5618> you excel <4052> in <1722> everything <3956>– in faith <4102>, in speech <3056>, in knowledge <1108>, and <2532> in all <3956> eagerness <4710> and <2532> in <26> the love <26> from <1537> us <2257> that is in <1722> you <5213>– make sure that you excel <4052> in <1722> this <3778> act of kindness <5485> too.
8I am <3004> not <3756> saying <3004> this as a command <2003>, but <235> I am testing the genuineness <1381> of your <5212> love <26> by comparison <1103> with <1223> the eagerness <4710> of others <2087>.
9For <1063> you know <1097> the grace <5485> of our <2257> Lord <2962> Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>, that <3754> although he was <1510> rich <4145>, he became poor <4433> for <1223> your <5209> sakes, so that <2443> you <5210> by his <1565> poverty <4432> could become rich <4147>.
10So <2532> here is my opinion <1106> on <1722> this matter <5129>: It is to your advantage <4851>, since you made <4160> a good start last year <4070> both in your giving and your desire <2309> to give,
11to finish <3570> what you started <2005>, so <3704> that just as <2509> you wanted <2309> to do <4160> it eagerly <4288>, you can also complete <2005> it according to <1537> your means <2192>.
12For <1063> if <1487> the eagerness <4288> is present <4295>, the gift itself is acceptable <2144> according to <2526> whatever <1437> one has <2192>, not <3756> according to <2526> what he does <2192> not <3756> have <2192>.
13For <1063> I do not <3756> say this so <2443> there would be relief <425> for others <243> and suffering <2347> for you <5213>, but <235> as a matter of <1537> equality <2471>.
14At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that <2443> one day their abundance <4051> may also meet <1096> your <5216> need <5303>, and thus there may be <1096> equality <2471>,
15as <2531> it is written <1125>: “The one who gathered much <4183> did <4121> not <3756> have too much <4121>, and <2532> the one who gathered little <3641> did <1641> not <3756> have too little <1641>.”
16But <1161> thanks <5485> be to God <2316> who put <1325> in <1722> the heart <2588> of Titus <5103> the same <846> devotion <4710> I have for <5228> you <5216>,
17because <3754> he <1209> not only <3303> accepted <1209> our request, but since he was <5225> very eager <4705>, he is coming <1831> to <4314> you <5209> of his own accord <830>.
18And <1161> we are sending <4842> along with <3326> him <846> the brother <80> who <3739> is praised <1868> by <1223> all <3956> the churches <1577> for his work in <1722> spreading the gospel <2098>.
19In addition, this brother has also <2532> been chosen <5500> by <5259> the churches <1577> as our <2257> traveling companion <4898> as we administer <1247> this <3778> generous gift <5485> to <4314> the glory <1391> of the Lord <2962> himself and <2532> to show our <2257> readiness to help <4288>.
20We did this <5124> as a precaution <4724> so that no <3361> one <5100> should blame <3469> us <2248> in regard <1722> to this <3778> generous gift <100> we <2257> are administering <1247>.
21For <1063> we are concerned <4306> about what is right <2570> not <3756> only <3440> before <1799> the Lord <2962> but <235> also <2532> before <1799> men <444>.
22And <1161> we are sending <4842> with them <846> our <2257> brother <80> whom <3739> we have tested <1381> many <4183> times <4178> and found eager <4705> in many matters, but who now <3570> is much more <4183> eager <4706> than ever because of the great <4183> confidence <4006> he has in <1519> you <5209>.
23If <1535> there is any question about <5228> Titus <5103>, he is my <1699> partner <2844> and <2532> fellow worker <4904> among <1519> you <5209>; if <1535> there is any question about our <2257> brothers <80>, they are messengers <652> of the churches <1577>, a glory <1391> to Christ <5547>.
24Therefore <3767> show <1731> them <846> openly before <1519> <4383> the churches <1577> the proof <1732> of your <5216> love <26> and <2532> of our <2257> pride <2746> in <5228> you <5216>.