A Collection for the Church

2 Corinthians 8

Now, siblings, we want y’all to know about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia. During a severe trial of oppression, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed to the wealth of their generosity. I can testify that, according to their means and even beyond it, of their own initiative, they urgently begged us for the grace of sharing in the deacon-work to the saints. And they did not just what we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus, that just as he had begun, he would also complete this act of grace for y’all. But since y’all excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in y’all’s love for us—y’all be sure to excel in this grace as well.

I am not saying this as a commandment, but as a way of testing the sincerity of y’all’s love by comparison with the eagerness of others. For y’all know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for y’all’s sake, so that through his poverty y’all might become rich.

So I will give my opinion about what is best for y’all: Last year, you were the first to begin, not only to do something, but to desire to do so. Now y’all should complete the work, so that just as there was the readiness and desire, so there may the completion according to your ability. For if the willingness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

This is not so that others may be relieved while y’all are oppressed, but as a matter of equality. At the present moment, y’all’s abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may meet y’all’s need, bringing about equality. As it is written, “The one who gathered much did not overshoot, and the one who gathered little did not fall short.”+Exo 16:18

Titus’s Collection Mission

Thanks be to God, who put the same concern I have for y’all in the heart of Titus. For he not only welcomed our request, but being very diligent, he is coming to y’all on his own initiative. We have sent him together with the sibling who is praised in all the churches for his gospel work. And not only that, he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gracious gift, which we are administering for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our zeal to help, taking precaution so that no one will find any fault in the way we are administering this large gift. We are thinking carefully about acting with excellence, not only before the Lord, but also before humans. We are also sending our sibling whom we have tested many times in many things and found diligent, but now even more diligent because of the great his confidence in y’all. As for Titus, he is my partner and coworker for y’all, and as for our siblings, they are the apostles of the church to the glory of Christ. Therefore, show all the churches the proof of y’all’s love for these men and the reason for our boasting about y’all.