Parallel Bible results for "2 corinthians 8"

2 Corinthians 8

Hebrew Names Version HNV

1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;

2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.

3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

4 begging us with much entreaty in regard to this grace and the fellowship in the service to the holy ones.

5 This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

6 Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.

7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.

8 I speak not by way of mitzvah, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

10 I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don't have.

13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went forth to you of his own accord.

18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known through all the assemblies.

19 Not only so, but who was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

20 We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us in concerning this bounty which is served by us.

21 Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker toward you. As for our brothers, they are the messengers of the assemblies, the glory of Messiah.

24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them in front of the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.

The Message Bible MSG

1 Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province.

2 Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts.

3 I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could - far more than they could afford! -

4 pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.

5 This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives.

6 That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up.

7 You do so well in so many things - you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us - now, do your best in this, too.

8 I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you.

9 You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us - in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.

10 So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale.

11 Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it.

12 Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands.

13 This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way,

14 your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even.

15 As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least.

16 I thank God for giving Titus the same devoted concern for you that I have.

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.

18 We're sending a companion along with him, someone very popular in the churches for his preaching of the Message.

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,

20 taking every precaution against scandal.

21 We're being as careful in our reputation with the public as in our reputation with God.

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.

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.

24 Show them what you're made of, the love I've been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves!