Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
7 1 Lest by overmuch urging them he should dismay their tender minds, 2 he proveth that all that he said, 4 proceeded of the great good will he bare unto them: 8 and therefore they should not be offended, that he made them sorry, 10 and brought them to repentance not to be repented of.
1 Seeing then we have these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the [a]flesh and spirit, and finish our sanctification in the fear of God.
2 [b][c]Receive us: we have done wrong to no man: we have corrupted no man: we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak it not to your [d]condemnation: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts, to die and live together.
4 I use great boldness of speech toward you: I rejoice greatly in you: I am filled with comfort, and am exceeding joyous in all our tribulation.
5 For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side, fightings without, and terrors within.
6 But God, that comforteth the [e]abject, comforted us at the [f]coming of Titus:
7 And not by his coming only, but also by the consolation wherewith he was comforted of you, when he told us your great desire, your mourning, your fervent mind to me-ward, so that I rejoiced much more.
8 [g]For though I made you sorry with a letter, I repent not, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same Epistle made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 I now rejoice, not that ye were sorry, but that ye sorrowed to [h]repentance: for ye sorrowed godly, so that in nothing ye were hurt by us.
10 For [i]godly sorrow causeth repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of: but the worldly sorrow causeth death.
11 For behold, this thing that ye have been godly sorry, what great care hath it wrought in you: yea, what clearing of yourselves: yea, what indignation: yea, what fear: yea, how great desire: yea, what a zeal: yea, what revenge: in all things ye have showed yourselves, that ye are pure in this matter.
12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did not it for his cause that had done the wrong, neither for his cause that had the injury, but that our care toward you in the [j]sight of God might appear unto you.
13 Therefore we were comforted, because ye were comforted: but rather we rejoiced much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
14 For if that I have boasted anything to him of you, I have not been ashamed: but as I have spoken unto you all things in truth, even so our boasting unto Titus was true.
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, when he remembereth the obedience of you all, and how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16 I rejoice therefore that I may put my confidence in you in all things.
8 1 He exhorteth them by the example of the Macedonians, 9 and also even of Christ himself, 14 to be liberal towards the saints: 16 for which purpose, he showeth that Titus, 18 and another brother came unto them.
1 We [k]do you also to wit, brethren, of the [l]grace of God bestowed upon the Churches of Macedonia.
2 Because in [m]great trial of affliction their joy abounded, and their most extreme poverty abounded unto their rich liberality.
3 For to their power (I bear record) yea, and beyond their power they were [n]willing.
4 And prayed us with great instance that we would receive the [o]grace, and fellowship of the ministering which is toward the Saints.
5 [p]And this they did, not as we looked for: but gave their own selves, first to the Lord, and after unto us by the will of God,
6 That we should exhort Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also accomplish the same grace among you also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith and word, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love towards us, even so see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 [q]This say I not by commandment, but because of the [r]diligence of others: therefore prove I the [s]naturalness of your love.
9 [t]For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he being rich, for your sakes became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich.
10 [u]And I show my mind herein: for this is expedient for you, which have begun not to do only, but also to [v]will, a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform to do it also, that as there was a readiness to will, even so ye may perform it of that which ye have.
12 [w]For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 [x]Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieved: But upon [y]like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lack:
14 That also their abundance may be for your lack, that there may be equality.
15 As it is written, (A)He that gathered much, had nothing over, and he that gathered little, had not the less.
16 [z]And thanks be unto God, which had put in the heart of Titus the same care for you.
17 Because he accepted the exhortation, yea, he was so careful that of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent also with him the brother, whose praise is [aa]in the Gospel throughout all the Churches.
19 (And not so only, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a fellow in our journey, concerning this [ab]grace that is ministered by us unto the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your prompt mind.)
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this [ac]abundance that is ministered by us,
21 (B)Providing for honest things, not only before the Lord, but also before men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have ofttimes proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, for the great confidence, which I have in you.
23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my fellow and helper to you-ward: or of our [ad]brethren, they are messengers of the Churches, and the [ae]glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore show toward them, and before the [af]Churches the proof of your love, and of the rejoicing that we have of you.
9 1 Why, albeit he think well of their ready wills, 3 yet earnestly exhorteth them, 4 he yieldeth a reason: 6 He compareth alms to seed sowing, 10 which God doth repay with great gain.
1 For [ag]as touching the ministering to the Saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.
2 For I know your readiness of mind, whereof I boast myself of you unto them of Macedonia, and say, that Achaia was prepared a year ago, and your zeal hath provoked many.
3 Now have I sent the brethren, lest our rejoicing over you should be in vain in this behalf, that ye (as I have said) be ready.
4 Lest if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we may not say, you) should be ashamed in this my [ah]constant boasting.
5 Wherefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to come before unto you, and to finish your benevolence appointed afore, that it might be ready, and come as of benevolence, and not as of [ai]niggardliness.
6 [aj]This yet remember, that he which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly, and he that soweth liberally, shall reap also liberally.
7 As every man [ak]wisheth in his heart, so let him give, not (C)[al]grudgingly, or of [am]necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all [an]grace to abound toward you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in [ao]every good work,
9 ((D)As it is written, He hath sparsed abroad and hath given to the poor: his benevolence remaineth for [ap]ever.
10 Also he that findeth seed to the sower, will minister likewise bread for food, and multiply your seed, and increase the [aq]fruits of your benevolence.)
11 That on all parts ye may be made rich unto all liberality, which causeth through us thanksgiving unto God.
12 [ar]For the ministration of this service not only supplieth the necessities of the Saints, but also abundantly causeth many to give thanks to God,
13 (Which by the [as]experiment of this ministration praise God for your [at]voluntary submission to the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them, and to all men.)
14 And in their prayer for you, to long after you greatly, for the abundant grace of God in you.
15 [au]Thanks therefore be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.