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.

But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies 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.

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their liberality.

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

For according to power, I bear witness, and beyond power, willing of their own accord,

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

begging of us with much entreaty the grace and fellowship of the service which 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 not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.

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

So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to 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 even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may 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 do not speak as commanding, but through the zeal of others, and proving the genuineness 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 for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that ye by his poverty might be enriched.

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 I give opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.

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

But now also complete the doing of it; so that as the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have.

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 be there, accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has 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 not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,

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

but of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should 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

According as it is written, He who much had no excess, and he who little was nothing short.

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

But thanks to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in 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 received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you;

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

but we have sent with him the brother whose praise in the glad tidings through all the assemblies;

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, but also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and 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 one should blame us in this abundance administered by us;

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

for we provide for things honest, not only before Lord, but also before 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 often proved to be of diligent zeal in many things, and now more diligently zealous through the great confidence as to 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 as regards Titus, my companion and fellow-labourer in your behalf; or our brethren, deputed messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory.

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

Shew therefore to them, before the assemblies, the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you.