1Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
2that in a severe testing of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.
3For according to their ability—I testify—and beyond their ability, of their own accord,
4they begged us with much urging for the favor and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints—
5and not as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God.
6So we urged Titus that, just as he had earlier begun, so he would also complete among you this act of grace as well.
7But just as you abound in everything—in faith and word and knowledge and all diligence and in the love from us among you—see that you abound in this grace also.
8I am not saying this as a command, but through the diligence of others, testing also the genuineness of your love.
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
10And in this I give an opinion, for this is beneficial for you, who a year ago began not only to do but also to desire it.
11But now complete the doing of it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so also there may be the completing of it out of what you have.
12For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13For it is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but as a matter of equality:
14at the present time your abundance is for their lack, so that their abundance also may be for your lack, that there may be equality,
15as it is written: “The one who gathered much had nothing left over, and the one who gathered little had no lack.”
16But thanks be to God, who put the same diligence for you into the heart of Titus,
17because he not only welcomed the appeal, but being more diligent, he went out to you of his own accord.
18And we sent along with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches,
19and not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches as our traveling companion in this gracious work that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness.
20guarding against this, that no one should blame us in this generous gift that is being administered by us,
21for we take thought for what is honorable not only before the Lord but also before people.
22And we sent with them our brother whom we have often tested in many matters and found diligent, but now much more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you; as for our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24Therefore show to them, before the face of the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting about you.
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