{"book":"2 Corinthians","slug":"2-corinthians","ch":8,"genre":"letter","sub":"2 Corinthians","prev":"2-corinthians/7","next":"2-corinthians/9","verses":[{"v":1,"t":"Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace [that] God has given the churches of Macedonia.","f":[],"h":"Generosity Commended","style":"reg"},{"v":2,"t":"In [the] terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.","f":[]},{"v":3,"t":"For I testify [that] [they gave] according to [their] ability and even beyond [it]. Of their own accord,","f":[]},{"v":4,"t":"they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in [this] service to the saints.","f":[]},{"v":5,"t":"And not [only] [did they do] as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through [the] will of God.","f":[]},{"v":6,"t":"So we urged Titus to help complete your [act of] grace, just as he had started [it].","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":7,"t":"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.","f":["Or in your love for us"]},{"v":8,"t":"I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love through the earnestness of others.","f":[]},{"v":9,"t":"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that [though] He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through [His] poverty might become rich.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":10,"t":"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.","f":[]},{"v":11,"t":"Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to [your] means.","f":[]},{"v":12,"t":"For if the eagerness is there, [the gift] is acceptable according to what one has, not according to [what] he does not have.","f":[]},{"v":13,"t":"[It is not our intention] that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but [that there may be] equality.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":14,"t":"At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality.","f":[]},{"v":15,"t":"As it is written:“ He who [gathered] much had no excess, and he who [gathered] little had no shortfall.”","f":["Exodus 16:18"],"lines":[{"style":"","t":"As it is written:"},{"style":"indent1stline","t":"“ He who [gathered] much had no excess,"},{"style":"indent2","t":"and he who [gathered] little had no shortfall.”"}],"style":"indent1stline"},{"v":16,"t":"But thanks [be] to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion [I have] for you.","f":[],"h":"Titus Commended","style":"reg"},{"v":17,"t":"For not only did he welcome [our] appeal, but he {is} eagerly coming to you of his own volition.","f":[]},{"v":18,"t":"Along with [Titus] we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches [for his work] in the gospel.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":19,"t":"More than that, [this brother] was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and [to show] our eagerness [to help].","f":["See 1 Corinthians 16:3–4."]},{"v":20,"t":"We [want to] avoid any criticism of [the way] we administer this generous [ gift ].","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":21,"t":"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.","f":[]},{"v":22,"t":"And we are sending along with them our brother who has proven his earnestness [to us] many times [and] in many ways, and now even more [so] by [his] great confidence in you.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":23,"t":"As for Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow worker among you. [As for] our brothers, [they are] messengers of [the] churches, [the] glory of Christ.","f":["Or apostles"]},{"v":24,"t":"In full view of the churches, then, show [these men] the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.","f":[]}]}