Motivations for Giving

1 Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. 2 For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians:(a)(A) “Achaia(b)(B) has been prepared since last year,” and your zeal(C) has stirred up most of them.(D) 3 But I sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation.(c) 5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift(E) you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.(F)

Footnotes:

a. 2 Corinthians 9:2: Macedonia was a Roman province in the northern area of modern Greece.
b. 2 Corinthians 9:2: Achaia was the Roman province, south of Macedonia, where Corinth was located.
c. 2 Corinthians 9:4: Or in this confidence

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