1 MOREOVER, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

1Moreouer, brethren, wee do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia,

2How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their ioy, and their deepe pouertie, abounded vnto the riches of their liberalitie.

3For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselues:

4Praying vs with much entreatie, that we would receiue the gift, and take vpon vs the fellowship of the ministring to the Saints.

5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gaue their owne selues to the Lord, and vnto vs, by the will of God.

6In so much that wee desired Titus, that as he had begun, so hee would also finish in you, the same grace also.

7Therefore (as ye abound in euery thing, in faith, and vtterance, & knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your loue to vs) see that yee abound in this grace also.

8I speake not by commandement, but by occasion of the forwardnesse of others, and to prooue the sinceritie of your loue.

9For yee know the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poore, that yee through his pouertie might be rich.

10And herein I giue my aduice, for this is expedient for you, who haue begun before, not onely to doe, but also to be forward a yeere agoe.

11Now therefore performe the doing of it, that as there was a readinesse to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which you haue.

12For if there bee first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13For I meane not that other men bee eased, and you burthened:

14But by an equalitie: that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equalitie,

15As it is written, Hee that had gathered much, had nothing ouer, and hee that had gathered little, had no lacke.

16But thankes bee to God which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

17For indeed he accepted the exhortation, but being more forward, of his owne accord he went vnto you.

18And wee haue sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel, throughout all the Churches.

19And not that onely, but who was also chosen of the Churches to trauaile with vs with this grace which is administred by vs to the glorie of the same Lord, and declaration of your readie minde.

20Auoyding this, that no man should blame vs in this aboundance which is administred by vs.

21Prouiding for honest things, not onely in the sight of the Lord, but in the sight of men.

22And we haue sent with them our brother, whom wee haue often times proued diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, vpon the great confidence which I haue in you.

23Whether any doe enquire of Titus; he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brethren bee enquired of, they are the messengers of the Churches, and the glorie of Christ.

24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the Churches, the proofe of your loue, & of our boasting on your behalfe.

 

1 We want you to know, brothers, of the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For according to their means, I can testify, and beyond their means, spontaneously, 4 they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones, 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God, 6 so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun, he should also complete for you this gracious act also. 7 Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also. 8 I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others. 9 For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10 And I am giving counsel in this matter, for it is appropriate for you who began not only to act but to act willingly last year: 11 complete it now, so that your eager willingness may be matched by your completion of it out of what you have. 12 For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have; 13 not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality 14 your surplus at the present time should supply their needs, so that their surplus may also supply your needs, that there may be equality. 15 As it is written: "Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less." 16 But thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus, 17 for he not only welcomed our appeal but, since he is very concerned, he has gone to you of his own accord. 18 With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has also been appointed our traveling companion by the churches in this gracious work administered by us for the glory of the Lord (himself) and for the expression of our eagerness. 20 This we desire to avoid, that anyone blame us about this lavish gift administered by us, 21 for we are concerned for what is honorable not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of others. 22 And with them we have sent our brother whom we often tested in many ways and found earnest, but who is now much more earnest because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker for you; as for our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to them.

 v1. Paul extends the confidence of 7:16 by giving an example of the churches of Macedonia.
v2. The Macedonians having needs of their own, gave abundantly out of deep poverty, not out of wealth, such as the Corinthians would have.
v3,4. They sacrificed to give beyond what could be proportionately expected of them, and urged him to receive their offering.
v 5. The key to their generosity was that they gave themselves first.
v6-9. Titus had been given the responsibility of prompting their giving. Giving is called a “grace” in verses 6,7 and 19. As they had developed the graces of verse 7, they could also develop giving as a permanent characteristic of their Christianity. Christ is then given as an example of exchanging the riches of heaven for poverty on earth. He healed and gave freely to others, even giving his life that we might be rich eternally
v10-15. The drive had begun a year ago and they had been willing, but the time had come to make good on their promises, giving according to what they had, not according to what richer ones were giving. If they did that there would be a burden on no one, and others at some time might be able to help them. Principal of Ex. 16:18.
v16-19. Titus had both ability and understanding in dealing with problem situations. He not only accepted the assignment but was himself eager to do it. The helper sent with Titus could very likely be the brother in the Lord, Luke.
v20-24. By sending two men, Paul was making sure that there could be no credibility to any charge of misappropriation of funds. This is why our church requires two people to count the offerings, so not only the Lord knows they are honest, but others will too. Paul had told other churches about the great willingness of the Corinthians to give, now it was time for them to “put their money where their mouth is”, thus showing their love.