2 Corinthians 8 BSB ISV Parallel

◄ 2 Corinthians 8 ►

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Berean Study Bible

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1Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.

1We want you to know, brothers, about God's grace that was given to the churches of Macedonia.

2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.

2In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous.

3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,

3I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability.

4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

4They begged us earnestly for the privilege of participating in this ministry to the saints.

5And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.

5We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God's will.

6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.

6So we urged Titus to finish this work of kindness among you in the same way that he had started it.

7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

7Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness.

8I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.

8I am not commanding you but testing the genuineness of your love by the enthusiasm of others.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.

10And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.

10I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started to do it.

11Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means.

11Now finish what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness to complete it.

12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.

13It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

13Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness.

14At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality.

14At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair.

15As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”

15As it is written, "The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little."

16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.

16But thanks be to God, who placed in the heart of Titus the same dedication to you that I have.

17For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.

17He welcomed my request and eagerly went to visit you by his own free will.

18Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel.

18With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for spreading the gospel.

19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

19More than that, he has also been selected by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this work of kindness for the glory of the Lord and as evidence of our eagerness to help.

20We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.

20We are trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this great undertaking.

21For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

21We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people.

22And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.

22We have also sent with them our brother whom we have often tested in many ways and found to be dedicated. At present he is more dedicated than ever because he has so much confidence in you.

23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, to the glory of Christ.

23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker on your behalf. Our brothers, emissaries from the churches, are bringing glory to the Messiah.

24In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

24Therefore, demonstrate to the churches that you love them and show them publicly why we boast about you.

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