| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us —I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.” Titus and His Companions |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem —a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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