| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia. | 1Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, |
| 2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity. | 2that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. |
| 3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord, | 3For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, |
| 4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. | 4begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. |
| 5And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God. | 5And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. |
| 6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it. | 6Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you. |
| 7But 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. | 7But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you--make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. |
| 8I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others. | 8I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. |
| 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. | 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich. |
| 10And 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. | 10So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, |
| 11Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means. | 11to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means. |
| 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. | 12For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. | 13For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. |
| 14At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality. | 14At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, |
| 15As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.” | 15as it is written: "The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little." |
| 16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you. | 16But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you, |
| 17For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition. | 17because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord. |
| 18Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel. | 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. |
| 19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help. | 19In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. |
| 20We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift. | 20We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering. |
| 21For 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. | 21For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men. |
| 22And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you. | 22And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you. |
| 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, to the glory of Christ. | 23If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. |
| 24In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you. | 24Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you. |
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