2 Corinthians 8
The churches of Macedonia, despite experiencing great tribulation and poverty, showed an abundance of joy and generosity in their giving to the saints. The Corinthians are encouraged to follow their example and abound in this same grace, as they already excel in faith, word, knowledge, and charity. The apostle Paul reminds them that true generosity is not about what one has, but about the willingness to give, and that equality should be the goal, with those who have more supplying the needs of those who have less. Paul also commends Titus and other brothers who have been sent to the Corinthians to facilitate their giving and to demonstrate their charity to the churches.
1 And so we are making known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia 2 For within a great experience of tribulation, they have had an abundance of joy, and their profound poverty has only increased the richness of their simplicity 3 And I bear witness to them, that they were willing to accept what was in accord with their ability, and even what was beyond their ability 4 For they were begging us, with great exhortation, for the grace and the communication of the ministry that is with the saints 5 And this is beyond what we had hoped, since they gave themselves, first of all to the Lord, and then also to us, through the will of God 6 so much so that we petitioned Titus, that in the same manner as he had begun, he would also complete in you this same grace 7 But, just as in all things you abound in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all solicitude, and even more so in your charity toward us, so also may you abound in this grace 8 I am speaking, not commanding. But through the solicitude of others, I approve of the good character of your charity 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that through his poverty, you might become rich 10 And about this, I give my counsel. For this is useful to those of you who, only a year earlier, had just begun to act, or even to be willing to act 11 So, truly now, accomplish this in deed, so that, in the same manner as your willing mind is prompted, you may also act, out of that which you have 12 For when the will is prompted, it receives according to what that person has, not according to what that person does not have 13 And it is not that others should be relieved, while you are troubled, but that there should be an equality 14 In this present time, let your abundance supply their need, so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be an equality, just as it was written 15 "He with more did not have too much; and he with less did not have too little. 16 But thanks be to God, who has granted to the heart of Titus, this same solicitude for you 17 For certainly, he accepted the exhortation. But since he was more solicitous, he went to you of his own free will 18 And we have even sent with him a brother whose praise accompanies the Gospel throughout all the churches 19 And not only that, but he was also chosen by the churches to be a companion for our sojourn in this grace, which is ministered by us with our determined will, to the glory of the Lord 20 So let us avoid this, lest anyone disparage us over the abundance that is ministered by us 21 For we provide for what is good, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men 22 And we have also sent with them our brother, whom we have proven to be frequently solicitous in many matters. But now there is a greater solicitousness, which is greatly entrusted to you 23 and whether it concerns Titus, who is a companion to me and a helper to you, or whether it concerns our brothers, the Apostles of the churches, it is to the glory of Christ 24 Therefore, in the sight of the churches, show them the proof of your charity and of our glorying about you