1 M oreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;

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

2 h ow that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.

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

3 F or according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

They gave as much as they could because they wanted to.

4 b egging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

They asked from their hearts if they could help the Christians in Jerusalem.

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

It 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.

6 S o we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.

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

7 B ut as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.

You 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.

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

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.

9 F or you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

You 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.

10 I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

This 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.

11 B ut now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

Now do it with the same strong desires you had when you started.

12 F or if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

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

13 F or this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

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

14 b ut for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

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

15 A s it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

The 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

16 B ut thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

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

17 F or he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.

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

18 W e have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known through all the assemblies.

We are sending the Christian brother along. He is respected in the churches for his preaching.

19 N ot only so, but who was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

Not 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.

20 W e are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.

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

21 H aving regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

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

22 W e 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 has in you.

We 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.

23 A s for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.

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

24 T herefore show the proof of your love to them in front of the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.

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