Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Brothers and sisters, we want to let you know about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia.
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We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia;
2 While they were being tested by many problems, their extra amount of happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity.
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for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 I assure you that they gave what they could afford and even more than they could afford, and they did it voluntarily.
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For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means,
4 They urgently begged us for the privilege of sharing in this service for the saints.
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begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—
5 They even exceeded our expectations, because they gave themselves to the Lord first and to us, consistent with God's will.
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and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us,
6 As a result, we challenged Titus to finish this work of grace with you the way he had started it.
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so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you.
7 Be the best in this work of grace in the same way that you are the best in everything, such as faith, speech, knowledge, total commitment, and the love we inspired in you.
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Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you —so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
8 I'm not giving an order, but by mentioning the commitment of others, I'm trying to prove the authenticity of your love also.
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I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others.
9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, he became poor for our sakes, so that you could become rich through his poverty.
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For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
10 I'm giving you my opinion about this. It's to your advantage to do this, since you not only started to do it last year but you wanted to do it too.
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And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—
11 Now finish the job as well so that you finish it with as much enthusiasm as you started, given what you can afford.
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now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.
12 A gift is appreciated because of what a person can afford, not because of what that person can't afford, if it's apparent that it's done willingly.
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For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have.
13 It isn't that we want others to have financial ease and you financial difficulties, but it's a matter of equality.
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I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between
14 At the present moment, your surplus can fill their deficit so that in the future their surplus can fill your deficit. In this way there is equality.
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your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance.
15 As it is written, The one who gathered more didn't have too much, and the one who gathered less didn't have too little.
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As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
16 But thank God, who put the same commitment that I have for you in Titus' heart.
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But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same eagerness for you that I myself have.
17 Not only has he accepted our challenge but he's on his way to see you voluntarily, and he's excited.
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For he not only accepted our appeal, but since he is more eager than ever, he is going to you of his own accord.
18 We are sending the brother who is famous in all the churches because of his work for the gospel along with him.
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With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his proclaiming the good news;
19 In addition to this, he is chosen by the churches to be our traveling companion in this work of grace, which we are taking care of for the sake of the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our desire to help.
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and not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this generous undertaking for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our goodwill.
20 We are trying to avoid being blamed by anyone for the way we take care of this large amount of money.
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We intend that no one should blame us about this generous gift that we are administering,
21 We care about doing the right thing, not only in the Lord's eyes but also in the eyes of other people.
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for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of others.
22 We are sending our brother with them. We have tested his commitment in many ways and many times. Now he's even more committed, because he has so much confidence in you.
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And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found eager in many matters, but who is now more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you.
23 If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and coworker among you. If there is any question about our brothers, they are the churches' apostles and an honor to Christ.
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As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker in your service; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 So show them the proof of your love and the reason we are so proud of you, in such a way that the churches can see it.
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Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.