2 Corinthians 8

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

2They suffered great trouble, but they had great joy. They were very poor, yet they gave generously, like rich people give.

3Paul is a witness: they gave as much as they were able, and even more than they were able. They gave willingly.

4They urged Paul and his companions strongly, asking them to accept the gift, because they wanted to share in helping God's people.

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

6So Paul and his companions asked Titus to finish what he 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 them to excel in giving too.

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

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

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

11Now they must finish the task. They were eager to begin; now they must finish, giving from what they 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 they 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. He was diligent, so he went to the Corinthians on his own initiative.

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

19More than that, the churches chose him to travel with Paul and his companions. He 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 them for how they carry out this large gift.

21They 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. They have tested him many times and found him diligent. Now he is even more diligent, because Paul has great confidence in the Corinthians.

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

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