CHAPTER II.

A CONTRIBUTION SOLICITED FOR THE SAINTS AT JERUSALEM.

1 ^8:1AND I make known to you, brothers, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, ^8:2that in much trying affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. ^8:3For according to their ability, I testify, and beyond their ability, of their own accord, ^8:4with much entreaty they desired of us the favor of a participation in the service to the saints; ^8:5and not as we hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God, ^8:6so that we requested Titus, as he before began, that he would complete also this charity with you. ^8:7But as you abound in every thing, in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us, [we desire] that you may abound in this grace also.

2 ^8:8I do not speak by command, but on account of the diligence of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love; ^8:9for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he became poor, though rich, that you by his poverty might be rich. ^8:10And in this case I give an opinion; for this is expedient for you, who began before to act in this matter and to act willingly a year ago. ^8:11And now, therefore, perform the doing also, that as there was a readiness to will, so also there may be a performance from what you have. ^8:12For if there is a willing mind, a man is acceptable according to what he has, and not according to what he has not. ^8:13Not that others may be relieved and you burdened, ^8:14but that there may be an equality; that at the present time your abundance may supply their deficiency, and that their abundance may supply your deficiency, that there may be an equality, ^8:15as it is written; He that [gathered] much had nothing over, and he that [gathered] little had no deficiency.

3 ^8:16But thanks be to God, who put this care for you into the heart of Titus, ^8:17for he received the exhortation, and being extremely diligent went to you of his own accord. ^8:18And we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches, ^8:19and not only so, but he has also been chosen by the churches as our travelling companion in this charity ministered by us for the glory of the same Lord and our promptitude, ^8:20guarding against this, that no one may blame us in this abundance administered by us; ^8:21for we provide things honorable not only before the Lord, but also before men. ^8:22And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved in many services to be diligent, and who is now much more diligent from the great confidence in you. ^8:23If [any one inquires] respecting Titus, he is my companion and co-laborer for you; if our brothers, they are apostles of churches and the glory of Christ. ^8:24Show them therefore the proof of your love, and of our boasting of you before the churches.

4 ^9:1For concerning the service for the saints it is superfluous for me to write to you; ^9:2for I know your readiness, of which I boasted in your behalf to the Macedonians that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal has excited many. ^9:3But I sent the brothers, that our boasting of you may not be in vain in this respect, as I said you were prepared, ^9:4lest if the Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to say you, should be ashamed of this confidence. ^9:5I thought it necessary, therefore, to exhort the brothers to go to you before, and to make ready your free gift before announced, that it may be ready as a free gift and not as an exaction.

5 ^9:6And [consider] this, He that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he that sows liberally shall reap also liberally. ^9:7Let each one contribute as he chooses in his heart, not with regret or from necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ^9:8And God is able to make every favor abound to you, that having always every sufficiency in every thing you may abound in every good work; ^9:9as it is written, He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness continues forever. ^9:10And may he that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating multiply your grain, and increase the products of your righteousness; ^9:11that you may be enriched in every thing for all liberality, which produces through us thanksgiving to God. ^9:12For the performance of this service not only supplies the need of the saints, but also abounds with the thanksgivings of many to God; ^9:13[they] glorifying God on account of the proof of this ministry for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ and the liberality of the contribution to them and to all, ^9:14and by their prayer for you, greatly longing for you on account of the abounding grace of God upon you. ^9:15Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.