1Moreover, brethren, we doyou to wit of the grace of Godbestowedon the churches of Macedonia;
2
How thatin a greattrial of affliction the abundance of theirjoyandtheirdeeppovertyaboundedunto the riches of theirliberality.
3Forto their power, I bear record, yea, andbeyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4Prayinguswithmuchintreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministeringto the saints.
5And this they did, notas we hoped, butfirstgave their own selves to the Lord, and unto usby the will of God.
6InsomuchthatwedesiredTitus, thatas he had begun, so he wouldalsofinishinyou the samegracealso.
7Therefore, as ye aboundinevery thing, infaith, andutterance, andknowledge, andinalldiligence, andinyourlovetous, see that ye aboundinthisgracealso.
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I speaknotbycommandment, butbyoccasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of yourlove.
9Foryeknow the grace of ourLordJesusChrist, that, though he wasrich, yet foryoursakes he became poor, thatye through hispoverty might be rich.
10Andherein I give my advice: forthis is expedientforyou, who have begun before, notonly to do, butalso to be forward a yearago.
11Nowthereforeperform the doingof it; thatas there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performancealso out ofthat which ye have.
12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according tothat a manhath, and not according tothat he hathnot.
13For I mean notthat other men be eased, andyeburdened:
14Butby an equality, thatnowat this timeyourabundance may be a supply fortheirwant, thattheirabundancealso may be a supply foryourwant: that there may beequality:
15As it is written, He that hadgatheredmuchhadnothingover; and he that hadgatheredlittlehadnolack.
16Butthanks be to God, whichput the same earnest careinto the heart of Titusforyou.
17Forindeed he accepted the exhortation; butbeing more forward, of his own accord he wentuntoyou.
18And we have sentwithhim the brother, whosepraise is in the gospelthroughoutall the churches;
19Andnot that only, but who wasalsochosenof the churchestotravelwithuswiththisgrace, which is administeredbyusto the gloryof the sameLord, and declaration ofyour ready mind:
20Avoidingthis, that noman should blameusinthisabundancewhich is administeredbyus:
21Providing for honest things, notonly in the sight of the Lord, butalso in the sight of men.
22And we havesent with themourbrother, whom we haveoftentimesproveddiligentin many things, butnowmuch more diligent, upon the greatconfidencewhich I haveinyou.
23Whether any do enquire ofTitus, he is mypartnerandfellowhelperconcerningyou: orourbrethren be enquired of, they are the messengersof the churches, and the gloryofChrist.
24Wherefore shew yetothem, andbefore the churches, the proof of yourlove, and of ourboastingonyourbehalf.