Jubilee Bible 2000 JUB
New International Version NIV
1 Likewise, brethren, we make known unto you the grace of God bestowed on the <em>congregations</em> {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} of Macedonia,
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And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 how that in a great trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
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In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
3 For to <em>their</em> power, I bear record, and even beyond <em>their</em> power <em>they were</em> willing of themselves,
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For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
4 praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the grace and <em>take upon us</em> the fellowship of the ministry 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 <em>this they did</em>, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and <em>then</em> 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 exhorted Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete among 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 every <em>thing</em>, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us, <em>see</em> 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 as commanding, but by occasion of the diligence of others and to prove the sincerity of your charity.
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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 enriched.
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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 in this I give <em>my</em> advice, for this is expedient for you, who began not only to do, but also to be diligent 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 finish the doing <em>of it</em> that as <em>there was</em> a readiness to will, so <em>there may</em> also <em>be</em> a performance 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 is first a willing desire, <em>it is</em> accepted according to what a person has <em>and</em> not according to what they do not have.
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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 <em>I mean</em> not that others 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 by an equality, <em>that</em> now at this time your abundance <em>may be a supply</em> for their want that their abundance also may be <em>a supply</em> for 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,
15 As it is written, He that <em>had gathered</em> much had nothing over, and he that <em>had gathered</em> little had no lack.
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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 <em>be</em> to God, who put the same diligence into the heart of Titus for you.
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Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, of his own accord he went unto you.
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For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.
18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise <em>is</em> in the gospel throughout all the <em>congregations</em> {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones},
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And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.
19 and not <em>that</em> only, but who was also ordained by the <em>congregations</em> {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord and <em>declaration of</em> your ready desire,
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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 avoiding that anyone should blame us regarding this abundance which is ministered by us,
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We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.
21 providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
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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 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which <em>we have</em> in you.
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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 Regarding Titus, <em>he is</em> my partner and fellowhelper concerning you; or regarding our brethren, <em>they are</em> the apostles of the <em>congregations</em> {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} <em>and</em> the glory of Christ.
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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 ye unto them before the <em>congregations</em> {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}, the proof of your charity and of our glorying regarding you.
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Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010
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.