The Holy Bible
King James Bible 2016
| 8:1 | Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: |
| 8:2 | how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. |
| 8:3 | Because, I bear record that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, |
| 8:4 | urging us with many requests that we would receive the gift and take on us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. |
| 8:5 | And this they did, not just as we hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. |
| 8:6 | So that we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you also. |
| 8:7 | Therefore, as you abound in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us, see that you abound in this grace also. |
| 8:8 | I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. |
| 8:9 | Because, 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 be rich. |
| 8:10 | And in this I give my advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; |
| 8:11 | but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. |
| 8:12 | Because, if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. |
| 8:13 | Because, I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; |
| 8:14 | but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their lack, that their abundance also may be a supply for your lack, that there may be equality. |
| 8:15 | As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack." |
| 8:16 | But thanks be to God who put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. |
| 8:17 | Because, he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. |
| 8:18 | And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, |
| 8:19 | and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, |
| 8:20 | avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us, |
| 8:21 | providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. |
| 8:22 | And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which I have in you. |
| 8:23 | If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. |
| 8:24 | Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. |
