1Moreover,brethren, we doyou to wit of the grace of Godbestowedon the churches of Macedonia;2
How thatin a greattrial of affliction the abundance of theirjoyandtheirdeeppovertyaboundedunto the riches of theirliberality.a3Forto their power, I bear record , yea, andbeyond their power they were willing of themselves;4Prayinguswithmuchintreaty that we would receive the gift,and take upon us the fellowship of the ministeringto the saints.5And this they did, notas we hoped , butfirstgave their own selves to the Lord,and unto usby the will of God.6Insomuch that wedesiredTitus,thatas he had begun , so he wouldalsofinishinyou the samegracebalso.7Therefore,as ye aboundinevery thing, in faith,andutterance,andknowledge,and in alldiligence,and in yourlovetous, see that ye aboundinthisgracealso.8
I speaknotbycommandment,but by occasion of the forwardness of others,and to prove the sincerity of yourlove.9For ye know the grace of ourLordJesusChrist,that, though he wasrich, yet foryoursakes he became poor , thatye through hispoverty might be rich .
10AndhereinIgive my advice:forthis is expedient for you,who have begun before , notonly to do , butalso to be forwardc a yearago.11Nowthereforeperform the doing of it; thatas there was a readiness to will , so there may be a performancealso out of that which ye have .
12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according tothat a manhath , and not according to that he hathnot.13For I mean notthat other men be eased,andyeburdened:14Butby an equality, that nowat this timeyourabundance may be a supply fortheirwant,thattheirabundancealso may be a supply foryourwant:that there may beequality:15As it is written , He that had gatheredmuchhadnothingover ; and he that had gatheredlittlehadnolack .
16Butthanks be to God,whichput the same earnest careinto the heart of Titusforyou.17Forindeed he accepted the exhortation;butbeing more forward, of his own accord he wentuntoyou.18And we have sentwithhim the brother,whosepraise is in the gospelthroughoutall the churches;19Andnot that only,but who wasalsochosenof the churches to travel with uswiththisgrace,dwhich is administeredbyusto the glory of the sameLord,and declaration of your ready mind:20Avoidingthis, that noman should blameusinthisabundancewhich is administeredbyus:21Providing for honest things,notonly in the sight of the Lord,butalso in the sight of men.22And we have sent with themourbrother,whom we haveoftentimesproveddiligentin many things,butnowmuch more diligent, upon the greatconfidencewhich I have inyou.23Whether any do enquire ofTitus, he is mypartnerandfellowhelperconcerningyou:orourbrethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.24Wherefore shew yetothem,andbeforethechurches, the proof of yourlove,and of ourboastingonyourbehalf.