1 C hristian brothers, we want you to know how the loving-favor of God has been shown in the churches in the country of Macedonia.

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;

2 T hey have been put to the test by much trouble, but they have much joy. They have given much even though they were very poor.

how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3 T hey gave as much as they could because they wanted to.

For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

4 T hey asked from their hearts if they could help the Christians in Jerusalem.

beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:

5 I t was more than we expected. They gave themselves to the Lord first. Then they gave themselves to us to be used as the Lord wanted.

and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

6 W e asked Titus to keep on helping you finish this act of love. He was the one to begin this.

Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.

7 Y ou are rich in everything. You have faith. You can preach. You have much learning. You have a strong desire to help. And you have love for us. Now do what you should about giving also.

But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8 I am not saying that you must do this, but I have told you how others have helped. This is a way to prove how true your love is.

I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

9 Y ou know of the loving-favor shown by our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, but He became poor for your good. In that way, because He became poor, you might become rich.

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 become rich.

10 T his is what I think. You had better finish what you started a year ago. You were the first to want to give a gift of money.

And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

11 N ow do it with the same strong desires you had when you started.

But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

12 I f a man is ready and willing to give, he should give of what he has, not of what he does not have.

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.

13 T his does not mean that others do not have to give and you have to give much. You should share alike.

For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;

14 Y ou have more than you need now. When you have need, then they can help you. You should share alike.

but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

15 T he Holy Writings say, “The man who gathered much did not have too much. The man who did not gather much had enough.” Titus Will Be Coming

as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack.

16 I thank God that He gave Titus the same desire to help you.

But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17 H e was glad when we asked him to help you. He decided himself to go to you.

For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.

18 W e are sending the Christian brother along. He is respected in the churches for his preaching.

And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches;

19 N ot only that, but he has been asked by the churches to travel with me to Jerusalem. He will help in giving them the gift. The Lord will be honored by it because it shows how we want to help each other.

and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness:

20 W e want everyone to trust us with the way we take this large gift of money to them.

Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us:

21 W e want to do the right thing. We want God and men to know we are honest.

for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 W e are sending another Christian brother with them. We have tested him many times. His faith has proven to be true. He wants very much to help because he trusts you.

and we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he hath in you.

23 T itus works with me to help you. The other two Christian brothers have been sent by the churches. Their lives honor Christ.

Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ.

24 S how these men you love them and let the churches see your love. Show them the reason I am proud of you.

Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.