Since we have these promises, beloved, (A)let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body[a] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul's Joy

(B)Make room in your hearts[b] for us. (C)We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that (D)you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. I am acting with (E)great boldness toward you; (F)I have great pride in you; (G)I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

For even (H)when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—(I)fighting without and fear within. But (J)God, who comforts the downcast, (K)comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. For (L)even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though (M)I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but (N)because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

10 For (O)godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas (P)worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, (Q)what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one (R)who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore (S)we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit (T)has been refreshed by you all. 14 For (U)whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you (V)was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers (W)the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete (X)confidence in you.

Encouragement to Give Generously

We want you to know, brothers,[c] about the grace of God that has been (Y)given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and (Z)their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave (AA)according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly (AB)for the favor[d] of taking part in (AC)the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they (AD)gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, (AE)we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you (AF)this act of grace. But as (AG)you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you[e](AH)see that you excel in this act of grace also.

(AI)I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that (AJ)though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter (AK)I give my judgment: (AL)this benefits you, who (AM)a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable (AN)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply (AO)their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, (AP)“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

16 But (AQ)thanks be to God, (AR)who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For (AS)he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going[f] to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending[g] (AT)the brother who is famous among (AU)all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been (AV)appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of (AW)grace that is being ministered by us, (AX)for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for (AY)we aim at what is honorable (AZ)not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is (BA)my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers[h] of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of (BB)our boasting about you to these men.

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

Now (BC)it is superfluous for me to write to you about (BD)the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness, (BE)of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready (BF)since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But (BG)I am sending[i] the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, (BH)as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians (BI)come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the (BJ)gift[j] you have promised, so that it may be ready (BK)as a willing gift, (BL)not as an exaction.[k]

The Cheerful Giver

The point is this: (BM)whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[l] will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, (BN)not reluctantly or under compulsion, for (BO)God loves a cheerful giver. And (BP)God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[m] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

(BQ)“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies (BR)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and (BS)increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 (BT)You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which (BU)through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying (BV)the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, (BW)they[n] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your (BX)confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 (BY)Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Greek flesh
  2. 2 Corinthians 7:2 Greek lacks in your hearts
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:1 Or brothers and sisters
  4. 2 Corinthians 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context
  5. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us
  6. 2 Corinthians 8:17 Or he went
  7. 2 Corinthians 8:18 Or we sent; also verse 22
  8. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Greek apostles
  9. 2 Corinthians 9:3 Or I have sent
  10. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Greek blessing; twice in this verse
  11. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed
  12. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse
  13. 2 Corinthians 9:8 Or all contentment
  14. 2 Corinthians 9:13 Or you

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