| The Message (MSG) |
New International Version (NIV) |
|
14 your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even.
|
14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,
|
|
15 As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least.
|
15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."
|
|
16 I thank God for giving Titus the same devoted concern for you that I have.
|
16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.
|
|
17 He was most considerate of how we felt, but his eagerness to go to you and help out with this relief offering is his own idea.
|
17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.
|
|
18 We're sending a companion along with him, someone very popular in the churches for his preaching of the Message.
|
18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.
|
|
19 But there's far more to him than popularity. He's rock-solid trustworthy. The churches handpicked him to go with us as we travel about doing this work of sharing God's gifts to honor God as well as we can,
|
19 What 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.
|
|
20 taking every precaution against scandal.
|
20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.
|
|
21 We're being as careful in our reputation with the public as in our reputation with God.
|
21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
|
|
22 That's why we're sending another trusted friend along. He's proved his dependability many times over, and carries on as energetically as the day he started. He's heard much about you, and liked what he's heard - so much so that he can't wait to get there.
|
22 In 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.
|
|
23 I don't need to say anything further about Titus. We've been close associates in this work of serving you for a long time. The brothers who travel with him are delegates from churches, a real credit to Christ.
|
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ.
|
|
24 Show them what you're made of, the love I've been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves!
|
24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
|
| Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
