1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been (A)given in the churches of (B)Macedonia,
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
1 We want you to know, brothers, about God's grace that was given to the churches of Macedonia.
1 Now, brothers and sisters, we want to tell you about the grace of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [awakening in them a longing to contribute];
2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the (C)wealth of their liberality.
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
2 During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.(C)
2 In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous.
2 for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity.
3 For I testify that (D)according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability,
3 I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability.
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily,
4 begging us with much urging for the (E)favor (a)of participation in the (b)(F)support of the (c)saints,
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
4 They begged us earnestly for the privilege of participating in this ministry to the saints.
4 begging us insistently for the privilege of participating in the service for [the support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].
5 and this, not as we had (d)expected, but they first (G)gave themselves to the Lord and to us by (H)the will of God.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will.(E)
5 We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God's will.
5 Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could].
6 So we (I)urged (J)Titus that as he had previously (K)made a beginning, so he would also complete in you (L)this gracious work as well.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
6 So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you.
6 So we urged Titus to finish this work of kindness among you in the same way that he had started it.
6 So we urged Titus that, as he began it, he should also complete this gracious work among you as well.
7 But just as you (M)abound (N)in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the (e)love we inspired in you, see that you (O)abound in this gracious work also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
7 Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge,(F) and in all diligence, and in your love for us(a)—excel also in this grace.
7 Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness.
7 But just as you excel in everything, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work [of giving] also.
8 I (P)am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
8 I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.
8 I am not commanding you but testing the genuineness of your love by the enthusiasm of others.
8 I am not saying this as a command [to dictate to you], but to prove, by [pointing out] the enthusiasm of others, the sincerity of your love as well.
9 For you know (Q)the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that (R)though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich,(G) for your sake He became poor,(H) so that by His poverty you might become rich.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.
9 For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed).
10 I (S)give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin (T)a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
10 Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.(b)(I)
10 I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started to do it.
10 I give you my opinion in this matter: this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to take action [to help the believers in Jerusalem], but also [the first] to desire to do it.
11 But now finish (f)doing it also, so that just as there was the (U)readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
11 But now finish the task(c) as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have.
11 Now finish what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness to complete it.
11 So now finish this, so that your eagerness in desiring it may be equaled by your completion of it, according to your ability.
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable (V)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
12 For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.(J)
12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.
12 For if the eagerness [to give] is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
13 It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality(d)—
13 Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness.
14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for (W)their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for (X)your need, that there may be equality;
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
14 at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality.
14 At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair.
14 at this present time your surplus [over necessities] is going to supply their need, so that [at some other time] their surplus may be given to supply your need, that there may be equality;
15 as it is written, “(Y)He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
15 As it has been written:The person who gathered muchdid not have too much,and the person who gathered littledid not have too little.(K)(e)
15 As it is written, "The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little."
16 But (Z)thanks be to God who (AA)puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of (AB)Titus.
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
16 Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus.
16 But thanks be to God, who placed in the heart of Titus the same dedication to you that I have.
16 But thanks be to God who puts the same genuine concern for you in the heart of Titus.
17 For he not only accepted our (AC)appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
17 For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice.
17 He welcomed my request and eagerly went to visit you by his own free will.
17 For Titus not only accepted our appeal, but was so very interested in you that he has gone to visit you of his own accord.
18 We have sent along with him (AD)the brother whose fame in the things of the (AE)gospel has spread through (AF)all the churches;
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
18 We have sent with him the brother(L) who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.(f)
18 With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for spreading the gospel.
19 (AG)and not only this, but he has also been (AH)appointed by the churches to travel with us in (AI)this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our (AJ)readiness,
19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
19 And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift(g) that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
19 More than that, he has also been selected by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this work of kindness for the glory of the Lord and as evidence of our eagerness to help.
19 and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in regard to this gracious offering which we are administering for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our eagerness [as believers to help one another].
20 (g)taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
20 We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us.
20 We are trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this great undertaking.
20 We are taking precaution so that no one will [find anything with which to] discredit us in our administration of this generous gift.
21 for we (AK)have regard for what is honorable, not only in (AL)the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
21 For we are making provision(M) for what is right,(N) not only before the Lord but also before men.
21 We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people.
21 For we have regard for what is honorable [and above suspicion], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
22 We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
22 We have also sent with them our brother whom we have often tested in many ways and found to be dedicated. At present he is more dedicated than ever because he has so much confidence in you.
22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found to be diligent in many things, but who is now even more diligent [than ever] because of his great confidence in you.
23 As for (AM)Titus, he is my (AN)partner and fellow worker (h)among you; as for our (AO)brethren, they are (i)(AP)messengers of the churches, (AQ)a glory to Christ.
23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner(O) and coworker(P) serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers(Q) of the churches, the glory of Christ.(R)
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker on your behalf. Our brothers, emissaries from the churches, are bringing glory to the Messiah.
24 Therefore (j)openly before the churches, (k)show them the proof of your love and of our (AR)reason for boasting about you.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
24 Therefore, demonstrate to the churches that you love them and show them publicly why we boast about you.
24 Therefore, show these men, in the sight of the churches, the proof of your love and our reason for being proud of you.
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