2 Corinthians 8

1 We doe you also to wit, brethren, of the grace of God bestowed vpon the Churches of Macedonia,

We want to remind you, friends, of the love that God has shown to the churches in Macedonia –

2 Because in great triall of affliction their ioy abounded, and their most extreme pouertie abounded vnto their rich liberalitie.

How, tired though they were by many a trouble, their overflowing happiness, and even their deep poverty, resulted in a flood of generosity.

3 For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyonde their power, they were willing,

I can bear witness that to the full extent of their power, and even beyond their power, spontaneously,

4 And praied vs with great instance that we woulde receiue the grace, and fellowship of the ministring which is toward the Saints.

and with many an appeal to us for permission, they showed their love, and contributed their share towards the fund for their fellow Christians.

5 And this they did, not as we looked for: but gaue their owne selues, first to the Lord, and after vnto vs by the will of God,

And that, not only in the way we had expected; but first they gave themselves to the Lord, and to us also, in accordance with God’s will.

6 That we should exhort Titus, that as hee had begon, so he would also accomplish the same grace among you also.

And this led us to beg Titus, that since he had started the work for you, he should also see to the completion of this expression of your love.

7 Therefore, as yee abound in euery thing, in faith and woorde, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your loue towardes vs, euen so see that yee abound in this grace also.

And, remembering how you excel in everything – in faith, in teaching, in knowledge, in unfailing earnestness, and in the affection that we have awakened in you – I ask you to excel also in this expression of your love.

8 This say I not by commandement, but because of the diligence of others: therefore prooue I the naturalnesse of your loue.

I am not laying a command on you, but I am making use of the earnestness shown by others to test the genuineness of your affection.

9 For ye knowe the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, that hee being rich, for your sakes became poore, that yee through his pouertie might be made rich.

For you do not forget the loving kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ – how that for your sakes, although he was rich, he became poor, so that you also might become rich through his poverty.

10 And I shewe my minde herein: for this is expedient for you, which haue begun not to doe onely, but also to will, a yeare agoe.

I am only making suggestions on this matter; for this is the best course for you, since you were a year before others, not only in taking action, but also in showing your readiness to do so.

11 Nowe therefore performe to doe it also, that as there was a readinesse to will, euen so yee may performe it of that which yee haue.

And now I want you to complete the work, so that its completion may correspond with your willing readiness – in proportion, of course, to your means.

12 For if there be first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

For, where there is willingness, a person’s gift is valued by its comparison with what they have, and not with what they do not have.

13 Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieued: But vpon like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lacke:

For our object is not to give relief to others and bring distress on you. It is a matter of a fair balance.

14 That also their aboundance may bee for your lacke, that there may be equalitie:

On this occasion what you can spare will supply what they need, at another time what they can spare may supply your need, and so things will be equal.

15 As it is written, Hee that gathered much, had nothing ouer, and hee that gathered litle, had not the lesse.

As scripture says – “Those who had much had nothing over, and those who had little did not lack!”

16 And thanks be vnto God, which hath put in the heart of Titus the same care for you.

I thank God for inspiring Titus with the same keen interest in your welfare that I have;

17 Because hee accepted the exhortation, yea, hee was so carefull that of his owne accorde hee went vnto you.

for Titus has responded to my appeals and, in his great earnestness, is starting to go to you of his own accord.

18 And wee haue sent also with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout al the Churches.

We are sending with him one of the Lord’s followers whose fame in the service of the good news has spread through all the churches;

19 (And not so onely, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a fellowe in our iourney, concerning this grace that is ministred by vs vnto the glorie of the same Lord, and declaration of your prompt minde)

and not only that, but he has been elected by the churches to accompany us on our journey, in connexion with this expression of your love, which we are personally administering to the honour of the Lord, and to show our deep interest.

20 Auoiding this, that no man shoulde blame vs in this aboundance that is ministred by vs,

What we are specially guarding against is that any fault should be found with us in regard to our administration of this charitable fund;

21 Prouiding for honest thinges, not onely before the Lord, but also before men.

for we are trying to make arrangements which will be right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of people.

22 And we haue sent with them our brother, whom we haue oft times prooued to be diligent in many thinges, but nowe much more diligent, for the great confidence, which I haue in you.

We are also sending with them another of our friends, whose earnestness we have many a time proved in many ways, and whom we now find made even more earnest by his great confidence in you.

23 Whether any doe inquire of Titus, he is my fellowe and helper to you ward: or of our brethren, they are messengers of the Churches, and the glorie of Christ.

If I must say anything about Titus, he is my intimate companion, and he shares my work for you; if it is our friends, they are delegates of the churches, an honour to Christ.

24 Wherefore shew toward them, and before the Churches the proofe of your loue, and of the reioycing that we haue of you.

Show them, therefore – so that the churches may see it – the proof of your affection, and the ground for our boasting to them about you.