Parallel Bible results for "2 Corinthians 8"

2 Corinthians 8

Lexham English Bible LEB

1 Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,

2 that with a great ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extreme depth of their poverty have overflowed to the wealth of their generosity.

3 I testify that [they gave] according to [their] ability, and beyond [their] ability, by their own choice,

4 requesting of us with much exhortation the favor and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints,

5 and not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and [then] to us, by the will of God.

6 So we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun [it], thus he would also complete for you this [act of] grace.

7 But just as you excel in everything--in faith and in speaking and in knowledge and with all diligence and in the love from us [that is] in you--so may you excel in this grace also.

8 I am not saying [this] as a command, but proving the genuineness of your love by means of the diligence of others.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that [although he] was rich, for your sake he became poor, in order that you, by his poverty, may become rich.

10 And I am giving an opinion in this [matter], because this is profitable for you who not only began previously, a year ago, to do [something], but also to want [to do it].

11 So now also complete the doing [of it], in order that just as [you have] the eagerness to want [to do it], thus also [you may] complete [it] from [what you] have.

12 For if the eagerness is present {according to what one has}, [it is] acceptable not {according to what one does not have}.

13 For [this is] not that for others [there may be] relief, [and] for you difficult circumstances, but [as a matter] of equality.

14 At the present time your abundance [will be] for their need, in order that their abundance may also be for your need, so that there may be equality,

15 just as it is written, "The [one] who [gathered] much did not have too much, and the [one] who [gathered] little did not have too little."

16 But thanks [be] to God, who has put in the heart of Titus the same devotion {on your behalf},

17 because he not only welcomed our request, but being very earnest, by his own choice he went out to you.

18 And we have sent at the same time with him the brother whose praise in the gospel [has become known] throughout all the churches.

19 And not only [this], but he was also chosen by the churches [as] our traveling companion together with this gift that is being administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and [to show] our readiness [to help].

20 [We are] trying to avoid this, lest anyone should find fault with us in this abundant gift that is being administered by us.

21 For we are taking into consideration what is honorable not only before the Lord, but also before people.

22 And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times in many [things] that he is diligent, but now much more diligent [because of his] great confidence in you.

23 If [there is a question] concerning Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow worker for you. If [there is a question concerning] our brothers, [they are] messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24 Therefore show to them the proof of your love and our boasting about you {openly before} the churches.

New International Version NIV

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 But 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.

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

9 For 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.

10 And 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.

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

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

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

14 At 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,

15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

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

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

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

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

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 man.

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 As 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.

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.