The Macedonian example

1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God that has been bestowed upon the congregations of Macedonia,

2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty produced their extravagant, sincere generosity.

3Because according to their ability, I bear witness, even beyond that ability, of their own accord,

4they begged us with much entreaty to receive the gift, the sharing in the ministry to the saints

5—and more than we had hoped, they first gave themselves to the Lord ⁹⁴(and due to God's will, to us).

6So we urged Titus that as he had made a beginning so he should also bring to completion in you this grace as well;

7that as you excel in everything—in faith, in word, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—that you excel in this grace too.

Christ's example

8I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our ⁹⁵sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

10So here is my advice in this (since already a year ago you began to give and to plan, this is to your advantage):

11now you must really finish the doing—not only of the enthusiastic planning but also of the completing—out of what you have

12(because when the intention is presented, it is acceptable according to what one may have, not what he does not have).

13Now this is not to distress you so as to relieve others,

14but by way of balance—at this juncture your surplus alleviates their lack, so that later their surplus may alleviate your lack—yes, that there be balance; ⁹⁶

15as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.” ⁹⁷

When handling money, avoid criticism

16Now thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you in the heart of Titus;

17because he not only welcomed my appeal but being very diligent he went to you of his own accord. ⁹⁸

18But we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Gospel is throughout all the congregations;

19and not only that—he was actually chosen by the congregations as our traveling companion with this gift, that is being administered by us with a view to the glory of the Lord Himself, and to our own goodwill,

20avoiding any criticism about how we are handling this abundance;

21giving thought to blamelessness, not only before the Lord but also before men. ⁹⁹

22Further, we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more so, because of our ¹⁰⁰great confidence in you.

23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker toward you; as for our brothers, they are envoys of the congregations, a glory of Christ. ¹⁰¹

24Therefore show the proof of your love (and of our boasting about you) to them as representatives of the congregations.