IV.
The apostle's fellowship concerning the ministry to the needy saints
8:1—9:15
A.
The grace from four parties
8:1-15
2 Cor. 8
:1
8:1
Furthermore we make known to you, brothers, the
1agrace of God which has been given in the churches of
bMacedonia,
2 Cor. 8
:2
8:2
That in much
1proving of affliction the abundance of their joy and the depth of their
apoverty abounded unto the riches of their
2bliberality;
2 Cor. 8
:3
8:3
That according to
their power, I testify, and beyond
their power,
aof their own accord,
2 Cor. 8
:4
8:4
With much entreaty they besought of us the
1grace and the fellowship of the
aministry to the saints;
2 Cor. 8
:5
8:5
And this, not as we had hoped, but they
agave themselves
1first to the Lord,
2and to us
3through the will of God.
2 Cor. 8
:6
8:6
So we entreated
aTitus that, even as he began before, so also he would complete for you this
1bgrace 2as well.
2 Cor. 8
:7
8:7
But just as you
aabound in everything, in faith and in
1word and in
bknowledge and in all
2cearnestness and in
3the love in you
4from us, abound in this
5grace also.
2 Cor. 8
:8
8:8
I am
anot speaking by way of command but through the earnestness of others, proving also the genuineness of your love.
2 Cor. 8
:9
8:9
For you know the
1agrace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor in order that you, because of His poverty, might become
brich.
2 Cor. 8
:10
8:10
And I give
my 1aopinion in this matter, for this is profitable for you who were the first to begin
ba year ago not only to do
this but even to intend to do
this.
2 Cor. 8
:11
8:11
But now complete also the doing, so that as
there was the
aeagerness in intending, so also
there would be the completing out of what you
bhave.
2 Cor. 8
:12
8:12
For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.
2 Cor. 8
:13
8:13
For it is not that to others
there would be relief,
yet to you affliction,
2 Cor. 8
:14
8:14
But it is out of equality; at the present time your abundance for their
alack that their abundance also may be for your lack, so that there may be equality;
2 Cor. 8
:15
8:15
As it is written,
1a"He who
gathered much had no excess, and he who
gathered little had no lack.''
B.
Exercising foresight for what is honorable
8:16-24
2 Cor. 8
:16
8:16
But athanks be to God who puts the same
1bearnestness on your behalf in the heart of
cTitus,
2 Cor. 8
:17
8:17
Because he not only received the
1aentreaty, but being more earnest, he also went forth
bof his own accord to you.
2 Cor. 8
:18
8:18
And we sent together with him the
abrother whose praise in the gospel is throughout
ball the churches,
2 Cor. 8
:19
8:19
And not only
this, but who has also been selected by the churches as our fellow traveler in this
1agrace which is being ministered by us, to the
bglory of the Lord Himself and
to demonstrate our ceagerness;
2 Cor. 8
:20
8:20
1Avoiding this, that anyone should find fault with us in this
2abundance which is being ministered by us.
2 Cor. 8
:21
8:21
For we
1exercise foresight for what is honorable not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.
2 Cor. 8
:22
8:22
And we sent with them
1our brother, whom we have proved to be
2diligent in many things many times, yet now much more
2diligent because of the great
aconfidence he has toward you.
2 Cor. 8
:23
8:23
Whether concerning
aTitus,
he is my
bpartner and
cfellow worker for you; or our brothers,
they are 1apostles of the churches,
they are Christ's glory.
2 Cor. 8
:24
8:24
Show therefore to them, in the face of the churches, the proof of your love and of our
aboasting on your behalf.
