2 Corinthians 8 NIV ISV Parallel

◄ 2 Corinthians 8 ►

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1And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

1We want you to know, brothers, about God's grace that was given to the churches of Macedonia.

2In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

2In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous.

3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,

3I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability.

4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people.

4They begged us earnestly for the privilege of participating in this ministry to the saints.

5And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

5We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God's will.

6So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

6So we urged Titus to finish this work of kindness among you in the same way that he had started it.

7But since you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you --see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

7Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness.

8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

8I am not commanding you but testing the genuineness of your love by the enthusiasm of others.

9For 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.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.

10And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.

10I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started to do it.

11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

11Now finish what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness to complete it.

12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.

13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

13Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness.

14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality,

14At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair.

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."

15As it is written, "The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little."

16Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.

16But thanks be to God, who placed in the heart of Titus the same dedication to you that I have.

17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.

17He welcomed my request and eagerly went to visit you by his own free will.

18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.

18With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for spreading the gospel.

19What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.

19More than that, he has also been selected by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this work of kindness for the glory of the Lord and as evidence of our eagerness to help.

20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.

20We are trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this great undertaking.

21For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

21We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people.

22In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.

22We have also sent with them our brother whom we have often tested in many ways and found to be dedicated. At present he is more dedicated than ever because he has so much confidence in you.

23As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ.

23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker on your behalf. Our brothers, emissaries from the churches, are bringing glory to the Messiah.

24Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

24Therefore, demonstrate to the churches that you love them and show them publicly why we boast about you.

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