| Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: | 1Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia. |
| 2During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. | 2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity. |
| 3I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, | 3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord, |
| 4they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, | 4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. |
| 5and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God's will. | 5And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God. |
| 6So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace. | 6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it. |
| 7Now as you excel in everything--in faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us--excel also in this act of grace. | 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. |
| 8I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. | 8I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others. |
| 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. | 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. |
| 10And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it. | 10And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire. |
| 11Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. | 11Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means. |
| 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. | 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality. | 13It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. |
| 14At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality. | 14At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality. |
| 15As it is written: The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little. | 15As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.” |
| 16Thanks be to God, who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. | 16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you. |
| 17For he welcomed our appeal and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. | 17For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition. |
| 18We have sent with him the brother who is praised among all the churches for his gospel ministry. | 18Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel. |
| 19And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gracious gift that we are administering for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. | 19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help. |
| 20We are taking this precaution so that no one will criticize us about this large sum that we are administering. | 20We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift. |
| 21Indeed, we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only before the Lord but also before people. | 21For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men. |
| 22We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent--and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. | 22And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you. |
| 23As for Titus, he is my partner and coworker for you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. | 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, to the glory of Christ. |
| 24Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you. | 24In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you. |
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