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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Corinthians 8 ESV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_corinthians/8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_corinthians/8-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ESV</a> > 2 Corinthians 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_corinthians/7.htm" title="2 Corinthians 7">◄</a> 2 Corinthians 8 <a href="../2_corinthians/9.htm" title="2 Corinthians 9">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">English Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/esv/nas/2_corinthians/8.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div></a><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Encouragement to Give Generously</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>We want you to know, brothers,<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or brothers and sisters">a</a></sup></span> about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>begging us earnestly for the favor<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context">b</a></sup></span> of taking part in the relief of the saints— <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Some manuscripts in your love for us">c</a></sup></span>—see that you excel in this act of grace also.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”</p> <p class="heading">Commendation of Titus</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or he went">d</a></sup></span> to you of his own accord. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>With him we are sending<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or we sent; also verse 22">e</a></sup></span> the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Greek apostles">f</a></sup></span> of the churches, the glory of Christ. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/8-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="footnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">1</span> Or <i><span class="catch-word">brothers</span> and sisters</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">4</span> The Greek word <i language="Greek">charis</i> can mean <i class="catch-word">favor</i> or <i>grace</i> or <i>thanks</i>, depending on the context<br /><span class="footnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">7</span> Some manuscripts <i><span class="catch-word">in</span> your love for us</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">17</span> Or <i><span class="catch-word">he</span> went</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">e</span> <span class="fnverse">18</span> Or <i><span class="catch-word">we</span> sent</i>; also verse 22<br /><span class="footnotesbot">f</span> <span class="fnverse">23</span> Greek <i>apostles</i><br /></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">ESV Text Edition® (2016).<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="http://www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 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