Third Millennium Bible TMB
New International Version NIV
4 praying us with earnest entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of ministering to the saints.
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they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
5 And this they did, not as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God,
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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 insomuch that we urged Titus that, as he had begun, so he would finish in you the same grace also.
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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 Therefore as ye abound in everything -- in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us -- see that ye abound in this grace also.
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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 speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forthcoming of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
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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 ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.
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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 herein I give my advice, for this is expedient for you, who began earlier not only to do, but also to be in the forefront a year ago.
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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 therefore perform the doing of it, that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
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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 there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not.
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For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13 For I do not mean that other men should be eased and ye burdened,
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Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
14 but that there be an equality: that now at this time your abundance may supply their want, that their abundance may also supply your want, that there may be equality.
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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,
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.