1 We doe you also to wit, brethren, of the grace of God bestowed vpon the Churches of Macedonia, 2 Because in great triall of affliction their ioy abounded, and their most extreme pouertie abounded vnto their rich liberalitie. 3 For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyonde their power, they were willing, 4 And praied vs with great instance that we woulde receiue the grace, and fellowship of the ministring which is toward the Saints. 5 And this they did, not as we looked for: but gaue their owne selues, first to the Lord, and after vnto vs by the will of God, 6 That we should exhort Titus, that as hee had begon, so he would also accomplish the same grace among you also. 7 Therefore, as yee abound in euery thing, in faith and woorde, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your loue towardes vs, euen so see that yee abound in this grace also. 8 This say I not by commandement, but because of the diligence of others: therefore prooue I the naturalnesse of your loue. 9 For ye knowe the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, that hee being rich, for your sakes became poore, that yee through his pouertie might be made rich. 10 And I shewe my minde herein: for this is expedient for you, which haue begun not to doe onely, but also to will, a yeare agoe. 11 Nowe therefore performe to doe it also, that as there was a readinesse to will, euen so yee may performe it of that which yee haue. 12 For if there be first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13 Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieued: But vpon like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lacke: 14 That also their aboundance may bee for your lacke, that there may be equalitie: 15 As it is written, Hee that gathered much, had nothing ouer, and hee that gathered litle, had not the lesse. 16 And thanks be vnto God, which hath put in the heart of Titus the same care for you. 17 Because hee accepted the exhortation, yea, hee was so carefull that of his owne accorde hee went vnto you. 18 And wee haue sent also with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout al the Churches. 19 (And not so onely, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a fellowe in our iourney, concerning this grace that is ministred by vs vnto the glorie of the same Lord, and declaration of your prompt minde) 20 Auoiding this, that no man shoulde blame vs in this aboundance that is ministred by vs, 21 Prouiding for honest thinges, not onely before the Lord, but also before men. 22 And we haue sent with them our brother, whom we haue oft times prooued to be diligent in many thinges, but nowe much more diligent, for the great confidence, which I haue in you. 23 Whether any doe inquire of Titus, he is my fellowe and helper to you ward: or of our brethren, they are messengers of the Churches, and the glorie of Christ. 24 Wherefore shew toward them, and before the Churches the proofe of your loue, and of the reioycing that we haue of you.
Christian Giving
1 Our friends, we want you to know what God's grace has accomplished in the churches in Macedonia. 2 They have been severely tested by the troubles they went through; but their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they are very poor. 3 I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. Of their own free will 4 they begged us and pleaded for the privilege of having a part in helping God's people in Judea. 5 It was more than we could have hoped for! First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God's will they gave themselves to us as well. 6 So we urged Titus, who began this work, to continue it and help you complete this special service of love. 7 You are so rich in all you have: in faith, speech, and knowledge, in your eagerness to help and in your love for us. And so we want you to be generous also in this service of love.
8 I am not laying down any rules. But by showing how eager others are to help, I am trying to find out how real your own love is. 9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; rich as he was, he made himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by means of his poverty.
10 My opinion is that it is better for you to finish now what you began last year. You were the first, not only to act, but also to be willing to act. 11 On with it, then, and finish the job! Be as eager to finish it as you were to plan it, and do it with what you now have. 12 If you are eager to give, God will accept your gift on the basis of what you have to give, not on what you don't have.
13-14 I am not trying to relieve others by putting a burden on you; but since you have plenty at this time, it is only fair that you should help those who are in need. Then, when you are in need and they have plenty, they will help you. In this way both are treated equally. 15 As the scripture says, “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
Titus and His Companions
16 How we thank God for making Titus as eager as we are to help you! 17 Not only did he welcome our request; he was so eager to help that of his own free will he decided to go to you. 18 With him we are sending the brother who is highly respected in all the churches for his work in preaching the gospel. 19 And besides that, he has been chosen and appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this service of love for the sake of the Lord's glory and in order to show that we want to help.
20 We are being careful not to stir up any complaints about the way we handle this generous gift. 21 Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.
22 So we are sending our brother with them; we have tested him many times and found him always very eager to help. And now that he has so much confidence in you, he is all the more eager to help. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and works with me to help you; as for the other brothers who are going with him, they represent the churches and bring glory to Christ. 24 Show your love to them, so that all the churches will be sure of it and know that we are right in boasting about you.