2 Corinthians 8

1Brothers and sisters, Paul wants the Corinthians to know about God's grace. God gave grace to the Macedonian churches.

2The Macedonian churches suffered great trouble. But the Macedonian churches had great joy. The Macedonian churches were very poor. Yet the Macedonian churches gave generously, like rich people give.

3Paul is a witness: the Macedonian churches gave as much as the Macedonian churches were able. The Macedonian churches even gave more than the Macedonian churches were able. The Macedonian churches gave willingly.

4The Macedonian churches urged Paul and his companions strongly. The Macedonian churches asked Paul and his companions to accept the gift. The Macedonian churches wanted to share in helping God's people.

5The Macedonian churches did more than Paul and his companions expected. First the Macedonian churches gave themselves to the Lord. Then the Macedonian churches gave themselves to Paul and his companions, because God willed it.

6So Paul and his companions asked Titus to finish what Titus had started. Titus had already begun this gift of grace among the Corinthians.

7The Corinthians excel in many things: faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, and love for Paul and his companions. Paul urges the Corinthians: excel in giving too.

8Paul is not commanding the Corinthians. Paul mentions other believers' diligence to test the genuineness of the Corinthians' love.

9The Corinthians know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was rich. But Jesus became poor for the Corinthians' sake. Because Jesus became poor, the Corinthians can become rich.

10Paul gives advice that will help the Corinthians. Last year the Corinthians were the first to want to give, and the Corinthians started giving.

11Now the Corinthians must finish the task. The Corinthians were eager to begin; now the Corinthians must finish, giving from what the Corinthians have.

12If a person has an eager heart, God accepts the gift based on what the person has, not on what the person lacks.

13Paul does not want other believers to be relieved while the Corinthians are burdened.

14Paul wants fairness. Right now the Corinthians have plenty and can supply what the Jerusalem believers need. Later the Jerusalem believers may have plenty and can supply what the Corinthians need. This is fairness.

15Scripture says: “The person who gathered much had nothing extra. The person who gathered little had no shortage.”

16Paul thanks God. God put the same diligent care for the Corinthians into Titus's heart.

17Titus accepted Paul's urging. Titus was diligent, so Titus went to the Corinthians on Titus's own initiative.

18Paul and his companions sent a brother with Titus. All the churches praise this brother for the brother's gospel work.

19More than that, the churches chose this brother to travel with Paul and his companions. This brother helps carry out the gift, for the Lord's glory, and to show the Corinthians' eagerness.

20Paul and his companions want to avoid blame. No one should blame Paul and his companions for how Paul and his companions carry out this large gift.

21Paul and his companions want to do what is right and good, before the Lord and before people.

22Paul and his companions sent another brother with Titus and the first brother. Paul and his companions have tested this brother many times and found this brother diligent. Now this brother is even more diligent, because Paul has great confidence in the Corinthians.

23If anyone asks about Titus: Titus is Paul's partner and helper concerning the Corinthians. If anyone asks about the brothers: the brothers are messengers of the churches and bring honor to Christ.

24Therefore the Corinthians must show these men, and show the churches, proof of the Corinthians' love. This proof will confirm Paul's boasting about the Corinthians.