2 Corinthians 8 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Generosity and Grace

Now^G1161 brothers^G80, we make^G1107 known^G1107 to you the grace^G5485 of God^G2316 which has been given^G1325 in the churches^G1577 of Macedonia^G3109,

2Co 8:2

2Co 8:2that in a great testing by affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the richness of their [fn]generosity.

2Co 8:3

2Co 8:3For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,

2Co 8:4

2Co 8:4begging us with much urging for the grace [fn]of sharing in the ministry to the saints,

2Co 8:5

2Co 8:5and this, not as we had [fn]expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

2Co 8:6

2Co 8:6So we encouraged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.

2Co 8:7

But just^G5618 as you abound^G4052 in everything^G3956, in faith^G4102 and word^G3056 and knowledge^G1108 and in all^G3956 earnestness^G4710 and in [fn]the love^G26 we inspired^G1537 in you, see that you abound^G4052 in this^G3778 gracious^G5485 work^G5485 also^G2532.

2Co 8:8

2Co 8:8I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.

2Co 8:9

2Co 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though being rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

2Co 8:10

2Co 8:10And I give my opinion in this matter, for this is profitable for you, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.

2Co 8:11

2Co 8:11But now complete [fn]doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it from what you have.

2Co 8:12

2Co 8:12For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

2Co 8:13

2Co 8:13For this is not for the relief of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—

2Co 8:14

2Co 8:14at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality.

2Co 8:15

2Co 8:15As it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”

2Co 8:16

But [fn]thanks^G5485 be to God^G2316 who puts^G1325 the same^G846 earnestness^G4710 on^G5228 your behalf^G5228 in the heart^G2588 of Titus^G5103.

2Co 8:17

2Co 8:17For he not only accepted our plea, but being himself very earnest, he has gone out to you of his own accord.

2Co 8:18

2Co 8:18And we have sent along with him the brother whose praise in the things of the gospel is throughout all the churches.

2Co 8:19

2Co 8:19And not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work that is being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness,

2Co 8:20

2Co 8:20 [fn]taking precaution lest anyone discredits us in our ministering of this generous gift,

2Co 8:21

2Co 8:21for we respect what is good, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

2Co 8:22

2Co 8:22And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many things, but now even more earnest because of his great confidence in you.

2Co 8:23

2Co 8:23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker [fn]among you; as for our brothers, they are [fn]messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.

2Co 8:24