Haweis - II Corinthians - 8

8:1  NOW we inform you, brethren, of the grace of God which hath been bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

8:2  that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, hath more abounded to the riches of their liberality.

8:3  For unto their power, I bear them witness, and above their power, they were voluntarily ready to give:

8:4  with much entreaty praying us that we would receive the gift, and undertake the communication of the contribution for the saints.

8:5  And not merely as we hoped, but gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us according to the will of God.

8:6  So that we exhorted Titus, that as he had been active before, so also he would perfect in you this grace also.

8:7  So as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and elocution, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8:8  I speak not by commandment, but because of the forwardness of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love.

8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor though he was rich, that ye by his poverty should be made rich.

8:10  And in this I give my opinion: for this is expedient for you, who have before begun not only to do, but also to be willing a year ago.

8:11  Now then accomplish also the doing it, that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be also to perform out of that which ye have.

8:12  For if there is first a ready mind, a man is acceptable according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not.

8:13  For I mean not that there should be ease for others and a burden on you;

8:14  but that according to equality, your abundance on the present occasion should afford a supply for their deficiency, that their abundance also may supply your deficiency, that there may be equality.

8:15  According as it is written, “He that gathered much had no more than others, and he who gathered little, had no less.”

8:16  But thanks be to God, who put the same solicitude for you into the heart of Titus.

8:17  For he received in deed the exhortation, but being more diligent, of his own ready mind he went unto you.

8:18  We have sent with him also a brother, whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches;

8:19  and not only so, but who was chosen by the churches as my fellow-traveller with this charity, ministered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and to shew your ready mind.

8:20  Avoiding this, that no man should lay any blame to us in this abundance which is administered by us:

8:21  providing what is fair, not only before the Lord, but also before men.

8:22  And we have sent with him our brother, whom we have often experienced in many things to be a man of diligence, but now much more diligent, through the great confidence which I have in you.

8:23  If any inquire concerning Titus, he is my companion and fellow-labourer to you; or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

8:24  Therefore shew unto them, and in the presence of the churches, a proof of your love, and of our just boasting in you.