2 Corinthians 8-9
Encouragement to Give Generously
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been agiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and atheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave aaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly afor the favor of taking part in bthe relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they agave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, awe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you bthis act of grace. 7 But as ayou excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—bsee that you excel in this act of grace also.
8 aI say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that athough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter aI give my judgment: bthis benefits you, who ca year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable aaccording to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply atheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, a“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
Commendation of Titus
16 But athanks be to God, bwho put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For ahe not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending athe brother who is famous among ball the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been aappointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of bgrace that is being ministered by us, cfor the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for awe aim at what is honorable bnot only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is amy partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of aour boasting about you to these men.
The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem
Now ait is superfluous for me to write to you about bthe ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, aof which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready bsince last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But aI am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, bas I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians acome with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the agift you have promised, so that it may be ready bas a willing gift, cnot as an exaction.
The Cheerful Giver
6 The point is this: awhoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, anot reluctantly or under compulsion, for bGod loves a cheerful giver. 8 And aGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
a“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies aseed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and bincrease the harvest of your righteousness. 11 aYou will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which bthrough us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying athe needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, athey will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your bconfession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 aThanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.