1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been A2 Cor 8:5given in the churches of BActs 16:9Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the ARom 2:4wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that A1 Cor 16:2; 2 Cor 8:11according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the AActs 24:17; Rom 15:25ffavor 1Lit andof participation in the 2Lit service to the saintsBRom 15:31; 2 Cor 8:19f; 9:1, 12fsupport of the 3Or holy onessaints, 5 and this, not as we had 1Lit hopedexpected, but they first A2 Cor 8:1gave themselves to the Lord and to us by B1 Cor 1:1the will of God. 6 So we A2 Cor 8:17; 12:18urged B2 Cor 2:13; 8:16, 23Titus that as he had previously C2 Cor 8:10made a beginning, so he would also complete in you DActs 24:17; Rom 15:25fthis gracious work as well.

7 But just as you A2 Cor 9:8abound BRom 15:14; 1 Cor 1:5; 12:8in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the 1Lit love from us in you; one early ms reads your love for uslove we inspired in you, see that you A2 Cor 9:8abound in this gracious work also. 8 I A1 Cor 7:6am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 9 For you know A2 Cor 13:14the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that BMatt 20:28; 2 Cor 6:10; Phil 2:6fthough He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10 I A1 Cor 7:25, 40give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin B1 Cor 16:2f; 2 Cor 9:2a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11 But now finish 1Lit the doingdoing it also, so that just as there was the A2 Cor 8:12, 19; 9:2readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. 12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable AMark 12:43f; Luke 21:3, 4; 2 Cor 9:7according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— 14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for AActs 4:34; 2 Cor 9:12their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for AActs 4:34; 2 Cor 9:12your need, that there may be equality; 15 as it is written, “AEx 16:18Hᴇ wʜo gathered ᴍᴜcʜ ᴅɪᴅ ɴoᴛ ʜᴀvᴇ ᴛoo ᴍᴜcʜ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ wʜo gathered ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ɴo ʟᴀcᴋ.”

16 But A2 Cor 2:14thanks be to God who BRev 17:17puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of C2 Cor 2:13; 8:6, 23Titus. 17 For he not only accepted our A2 Cor 8:6; 12:18appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. 18 We have sent along with him A1 Cor 16:3; 2 Cor 12:18the brother whose fame in the things of the B2 Cor 2:12gospel has spread through C1 Cor 4:17; 7:17all the churches; 19 ARom 5:3and not only this, but he has also been BActs 14:23; 1 Cor 16:3fappointed by the churches to travel with us in C2 Cor 8:4, 6this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our D2 Cor 8:11, 12; 9:2readiness, 20 1Lit avoiding thistaking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; 21 for we ARom 12:17have regard for what is honorable, not only in BProv 3:4; Rom 14:18the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for A2 Cor 8:6Titus, he is my BPhilem 17partner and fellow worker 1Lit for youamong you; as for our C2 Cor 8:18, 22brethren, they are 2Lit apostlesDJohn 13:16; Phil 2:25messengers of the churches, E1 Cor 11:7a glory to Christ. 24 Therefore 1Lit in the face of the churchesopenly before the churches, 2Or show the proof...for boasting to them about youshow them the proof of your love and of our A2 Cor 7:4reason for boasting about you.