12And indeed though I wrote unto you, I did it not merely for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause who had suffered the injury, but that our diligent attention for you might be more abundantly manifested to you in the presence of God. 13Therefore we were comforted in your consolation; and exceeding abundantly the more rejoiced we in the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14For if I have boasted of you to him in any thing, I am not ashamed; but as we have spoken all things to you in truth, so our boasting of you to Titus hath been found truth. 15And his bowels more abundantly yearn over you, when he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16I rejoice therefore that in every thing I have confidence in you.
[CHAP. VIII.]
NOW we inform you, brethren, of the grace of God which hath been bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, hath more abounded to the riches of their liberality. 3For unto their power, I bear them witness, and above their power, they were voluntarily ready to give: 4with much entreaty praying us that we would receive the gift, and undertake the communication of the contribution for the saints. 5And not merely as we hoped, but gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us according to the will of God. 6So that we exhorted Titus, that as he had been active before, so also he would perfect in you this grace also. 7So as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and elocution, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8I speak not by commandment, but because of the forwardness of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love. 9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor though he was rich, that ye by his poverty should be made rich. 10And in this I give my opinion: for this is expedient for you, who have before begun not only to do, but also to be willing a year ago. 11Now then accomplish also the doing it, that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be also to perform out of that which ye have. 12For if there is first a ready mind, a man is acceptable according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not. 13For I mean not that there should be ease for others and a burden on you; 14but that according to equality, your abundance on the present occasion should afford a supply for their deficiency, that their abundance also may supply your deficiency, that there may be equality. 15According as it is written, “He that gathered much had no more than others, and he who gathered little, had no less[106].”
16But thanks be to God, who put the same solicitude for you into the heart of Titus. 17For he received in deed the exhortation, but being more diligent, of his own ready mind he went unto you. 18We have sent with him also a brother, whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches; 19and not only so, but who was chosen by the churches as my fellow-traveller with this charity, ministered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and to shew your ready mind. 20Avoiding this, that no man should lay any blame to us in this abundance which is administered by us: 21providing what is fair, not only before the Lord, but also before men. 22And we have sent with him our brother, whom we have often experienced in many things to be a man of diligence, but now much more diligent, through the great confidence which I have in you. 23If any inquire concerning Titus, he is my companion and fellow-labourer to you; or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24Therefore shew unto them, and in the presence of the churches, a proof of your love, and of our just boasting in you.
[CHAP. IX.]
NOW concerning the contribution for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you. 2For I know your readiness of mind, for which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia had made preparation a year ago; and your zeal hath stirred up very many. 3But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying in you might not be vain in this matter; that as I have said, ye may be prepared. 4Lest haply if the Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we (not to say, you) may be confounded in this confidence of boasting. I 5have thought it necessary therefore to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and prepare before your promised bounty, that it may be ready as a matter of bounty, and not as extorted of covetousness.
6But this I add, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly, and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully. 7Let every man, as he hath purposed in heart, give, not with reluctance or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that in every case having always all sufficiency, ye may abound unto every good work: 9as it is written, “He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor, his righteousness abideth for ever[107].” 10Now he that supplieth seed to the sower, shall also supply bread for food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11being in every thing enriched unto all liberality, which causeth by us thanksgiving to God. 12For the ministration of this charitable service not only abundantly supplies the deficiencies of the saints, but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God; 13(while by the evidence of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberality towards them, and towards all men;) 14and with their prayers for you, greatly longing after you, on account of the transcendent grace of God in you. 15Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift.
[CHAP. X.]
NOW I Paul myself exhort you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who, when present, am indeed lowly among you, but being absent, am bold towards you. 2But I pray, that when I am present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I purpose to act resolutely against some who think of us, as if we walked after the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we war not after the flesh: 4for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the casting down the strong holds of corruption; 5laying low proud reasonings, and every high thing which exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and making every thought captive to the obedience of Christ: 6and holding ourselves ready to avenge every act of disobedience, when your obedience is fully proved. 7Regard ye the things that are personal? If any man is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him reflect again in himself, that as he is Christ’s, so are we Christ’s. 8Yea, and if I should boast somewhat more highly of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for your edification, and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed; 9that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10For his letters indeed, say they, are weighty and forcible, but his bodily presence is feeble, and his speech contemptible. 11Let such a man be assured of this, that such as we are by word in our letters when absent, such also will we be in deed when we are present. 12For we will not presume to put ourselves on the level, or compare ourselves with some who vaunt themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, have no understanding. 13But we will not glory in things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath marked out for us—a measure that hath reached even unto you. 14For we stretch not our pretensions beyond bounds, as though we reached not unto you; for we have advanced even unto you in the gospel of Christ: 15not boasting ourselves unmeasurably in other men’s labours; but having hope that when your faith is increased, we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule for more abundant usefulness, 16to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to arrogate glory in another man’s line for things already prepared. 17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18For not he who commendeth himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commendeth.