[1] And now we give you news, brothers, about the grace of God which has
been given to the churches of Macedonia; [2] How while they were undergoing
every sort of trouble, and were in the greatest need, they took all the
greater joy in being able to give freely to the needs of others. [3] For I
give them witness, that as they were able, and even more than they were
able, they gave from the impulse of their hearts, [4] Seriously requesting
us that they might have a part in this grace of being servants to the needs
of the saints: [5] And going even farther than our hope, they first gave
themselves to the Lord and to us after the purpose of God. [6] So that we
made a request to Titus that, as he had made a start before, so he might
make this grace complete in you. [7] And that as you are full of every good
thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to
us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way. [8] I am not giving
you an order, but using the ready mind of others as a test of the quality
of your love. [9] For you see the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how
though he had wealth, he became poor on your account, so that through his
need you might have wealth. [10] And in this I give my opinion: for it is
to your profit, who were the first to make a start a year before, not only
to do this, but to make clear that your minds were more than ready to do
it. [11] Then make the doing of it complete; so that as you had a ready
mind, you may give effect to it as you are able. [12] For if there is a
ready mind, a man will have God's approval in the measure of what he has,
and not of what he has not. [13] And I am not saying this so that others
may get off free, while the weight comes on you: [14] But so that things
may be equal; that from those things of which you have more than enough at
the present time their need may be helped, and that if you are in any need
they may be a help to you in the same way, making things equal. [15] As it
says in the Writings, He who had taken up much had nothing over and he who
had little had enough. [16] But praise be to God, who puts the same care
for you into the heart of Titus. [17] For while he gladly gave ear to our
request, he was interested enough to go to you from the impulse of his
heart. [18] And with him we have sent a brother whose praise in the good
news has gone through all the churches; [19] And not only so, but he was
marked out by the churches to go with us in the grace of this giving which
we have undertaken to the glory of the Lord and to make clear that our mind
was ready: [20] And so that no man might be able to say anything against us
in the business of this giving which has been put into our hands: [21] For
the business has been so ordered by us as to have the approval, not only of
the Lord, but of men. [22] And we have sent with them our brother, whose
ready spirit has been made clear to us at times and in ways without number,
but it is now all the more so because of the certain faith which he has in
you. [23] If any question comes up about Titus, he is my brother-worker,
working with me for you; or about the others, they are the representatives
of the churches to the glory of Christ. [24] Make clear then to them, as
representatives of the churches, the quality of your love, and that the
things which we have said about you are true.
