鼓励信徒慷慨捐助

弟兄姊妹,我们现在要让你们知道上帝向马其顿各教会所施的恩典。 他们虽然遭遇极大的患难,受尽熬炼,却充满了喜乐,在极度贫穷的情况下仍然十分慷慨乐捐。 我可以证明,他们是甘心乐意,尽其所能地捐助,甚至超过了自己的能力。 他们恳切地求我们准许他们与有需要的圣徒分享上帝的恩典。 他们这样做超过了我们的期望,并且他们按照上帝的旨意首先把自己献给主,然后献给我们。

所以,我们劝提多要继续完成他早先在你们当中开始的这件善事。 你们既然在信心、口才、知识、热心和对我们的爱心上都有突出的表现,也要在这件善事上有突出的表现。 我说这话并非命令你们,而是借着别人的热心考验一下你们爱心的真伪。 因为你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典,祂本来富足,却为你们的缘故变得贫穷,使你们借着祂的贫穷可以变得富足。

10 关于捐助的事,我把自己的意见告诉你们:你们一年前开始捐助,并且甘心乐意——这对你们有益。 11 你们现在要把它完成。你们既有恳切愿意的心,就要有始有终。 12 因为人只要按自己的能力甘心乐意地去做,必蒙上帝悦纳,上帝不会强求人做无法做的事。 13 这不是说要别人脱离困境,要你们陷入困境,乃是要均平。 14 现在你们这些富足的人可以帮补那些有需要的人,以便你们有需要的时候,那些富足的人也可以帮补你们,这样才均平。 15 正如圣经上说:“多拾的没有剩余,少拾的也没有缺乏。”

托人送捐款

16 感谢上帝!祂感动了提多的心,使他像我一样热诚地关怀你们。 17 这固然是他听了我们的劝告,但也是他自己非常热诚,自愿去你们那里。 18 我们还要派一位弟兄和他同去,这位弟兄在传福音的事上得到各地教会的赞许。 19 此外,他还受各教会的委派,与我们一同把捐款送往耶路撒冷,使主得荣耀,并表明我们热诚相助的心。 20 我们这样做是为了避免有人挑我们的不是,因我们经手的捐款数目可观。 21 无论在主面前或在人面前,我们务求行事为人光明磊落。

22 我们还要再派一位弟兄和他们一同去你们那里。我们经过多次多方的考验,证实他很热心,而且他因为十分信任你们,现在更热心了。 23 至于提多,他是我的同伴,与我一同服侍你们。另外两位弟兄是众教会的代表,是基督的荣耀。 24 所以,你们要在众教会面前向他们证明你们的爱心,以及我夸耀你们的话并非虚言。

Now we make known to you, Achim b’Moshiach, the Chen v’Chesed Hashem that was granted to Moshiach’s Kehillot of Macedonia,

That during a great ordeal of tzoros, their abundant simcha and the extreme depth of their oni (poverty) abounded to the osher (riches) of their generosity [SHEMOT 36:5; Pp 1:29-30; 1Th 1:6; 2:14; 3:3 4];

That according to their ability, I give solemn edut, and ad kdei kach (so much) even beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily and of their own accord,

Begging us, requesting from us the privilege of participating in giving tzedakah to the Messianic Jewish ministry of the Kadoshim [Ro 15:26; Ac 11:29; 2C 9:1]

And this not merely according to tikvateinu. They gave themselves first to Adoneinu and to us [Moshiach’s Shlichim] birtzon Hashem (in the will of G-d),

So that it was necessary for us to urge Titos that as he began and made a haschala (start) before, so he should complete among you also this mitzvah of avodas kodesh of the Chen v’Chesed Hashem.

Now just as you abound in everything‖in emunah, in torah, in da’as [1C 1:5] and in all zerizut (diligence) and in our ahavah (love) for you‖see also that you excel in this Chen v’Chesed Hashem. [1C 16:1 2]

I do not lay this out as a mitzvah, but the sincerity of your ahavah I am testing against the zerizut of others,

For you have da’as of the Chen v’Chesed of Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, who, though being rich, for your sakes, he became poor, [Mt 8:20; Pp 2:6-7] that you by Moshiach’s oni (poverty) may become rich.

10 And in this I give my etza (advice): it is tov me’od that last shanah you were the first not only to give tzedakah but also to be willing to do so.

11 Now also complete what you started! Then your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your finishing it from what you have. [SHEMOT 25:2]

12 For if the readiness is already present, it is acceptable according to whatever one may have‖not according to what one does not have. [MISHLE 3:27-28; Mk 12:43]

13 For it is not that there should be relief to others and distress and tzoros to you, but that there should be a balance of equality

14 During the present time of your abundance for those who lack, and also for your lack there may be their abundance, [2C 9:12] so also there may be equality,

15 As it has been written V’LO HE’DIF HAMARBEH V’HAMMAMIT LO HECHSIR. ("The one that gathered the much did not have too much and the one that gathered little did not have too little” SHEMOT 16:18)

16 But Baruch Hashem, the One having given the same zerizut (diligence) for you in the lev (heart) of Titos,

17 Because of the chozek (encouragement) he received, and having more zerizut on his own accord, he went forth to you.

18 And we sent with him the Ach b’Moshiach who is bavust (famous) among all the Kehillot for his proclaiming the Besuras HaGeulah,

19 And not only this but also this Ach b’Moshiach has been handpicked by the Kehillot to travel with us and with this avodas kodesh of chesed being administered by us to the kavod of Adoneinu Himself and as a gvies eidus (testimony) to your goodwill.

20 Avoiding also that anyone should murmur about our handling of this liberal matanah (gift);

21 For our tachlis is to do what is tov me’od B’EINEI ELOHIM V’ADAM (“in the eyes of G-d and man”). [MISHLE 3:4 TARGUM HASHIVIM]

22 And we sent with them our Ach b’Moshiach whom we have often tested and found having zerizut in much, and now having even more zerizut by his great bitachon in you.

23 As for Titos, he is my shutaf and your fellow po’el in your avodas kodesh; as for our Achim b’Moshiach, they are shlichim of the Kehillot, the kavod of Moshiach.

24 Therefore, openly before the Moshiach’s Kehillot, demonstrate your ahavah and vindicate our glorying about you [2C 7:14].