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.

¶ Likewise, brethren, we make known unto you the grace of God bestowed on the congregations 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 a great trial of tribulation 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 to their power, I bear record, and even beyond their power they were willing of themselves,

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

praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the grace and take upon us the fellowship of the ministry 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 they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and then unto us by 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 had begun, so he would also complete among you the same 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.

¶ Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all diligence 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 as commanding, but by occasion of the diligence of others and to prove the sincerity of your charity.

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 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 in this I give my advice, for this is expedient for you, who began not only to do, but also to be diligent a year ago.

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

Now therefore finish the doing of it that as there was a readiness to will, so there may also be a performance out of that which 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 there is first a willing desire, it is accepted according to what a person has and not according to what they do not have.

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 mean not that others be eased and ye burdened,

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

but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want that their abundance also may be 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 had gathered much had nothing over, and he that had 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 put the same diligence into the heart of Titus for you.

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

For indeed he accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, of his own accord he went unto you.

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

And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the congregations,

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 that only, but who was also ordained by the congregations to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord and declaration of your ready desire,

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

avoiding that anyone should blame us regarding this abundance which is ministered by us,

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

providing for honest things, 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 oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which we have 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.

Regarding Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you; or regarding our brethren, they are the apostles of the congregations and 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.

Therefore show ye unto them before the congregations, the proof of your charity and of our glorying regarding you.