2 Corinthians 8
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia.
γνωριζω δε υμιν αδελφοι την χαριν του θεου την δεδομενην εν ταις εκκλησιαις της μακεδονιας
2 During a great test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extremity of their poverty have produced great riches of generosity.
οτι εν πολλη δοκιμη θλιψεως η περισσεια της χαρας αυτων και η κατα βαθους πτωχεια αυτων επερισσευσεν εις τον πλουτον της απλοτητος αυτων
3 For I bear witness that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond what they were able, and of their own free will,
οτι κατα δυναμιν μαρτυρω και υπερ δυναμιν αυθαιρετοι
4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privlege of sharing in this ministry to the believers.
μετα πολλης παρακλησεως δεομενοι ημων την χαριν και την κοινωνιαν της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους
5 This did not happen as we had expected. Instead, they first gave themselves to the Lord. Then they gave themselves to us by the will of God.
και ου καθως ηλπισαμεν αλλ εαυτους εδωκαν πρωτον τω κυριω και ημιν δια θεληματος θεου
6 So we urged Titus, who had already begun this task, to complete among you this act of grace.
εις το παρακαλεσαι ημας τιτον ινα καθως προενηρξατο ουτως και επιτελεση εις υμας και την χαριν ταυτην
7 But you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us. So also make sure that you excel in this act of grace.
αλλ ωσπερ εν παντι περισσευετε πιστει και λογω και γνωσει και παση σπουδη και τη εξ υμων εν ημιν αγαπη ινα και εν ταυτη τη χαριτι περισσευητε
8 I say this not as a command. Instead, I say this in order to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it to the eagerness of other people.
ου κατ επιταγην λεγω αλλα δια της ετερων σπουδης και το της υμετερας αγαπης γνησιον δοκιμαζων
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich.
γινωσκετε γαρ την χαριν του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου οτι δι υμας επτωχευσεν πλουσιος ων ινα υμεις τη εκεινου πτωχεια πλουτησητε
10 In this matter I will give you advice that will help you. One year ago, you not only started to do something, but you desired to do it.
και γνωμην εν τουτω διδωμι τουτο γαρ υμιν συμφερει οιτινες ου μονον το ποιησαι αλλα και το θελειν προενηρξασθε απο περυσι
11 Now finish it. Just as there was an eagerness and desire to do it then, may you also bring it to completion, as much as you can.
νυνι δε και το ποιησαι επιτελεσατε οπως καθαπερ η προθυμια του θελειν ουτως και το επιτελεσαι εκ του εχειν
12 For if you are eager to do this deed, it is a good and acceptable thing. It must be based on what a person has, not on what he does not have.
ει γαρ η προθυμια προκειται καθο εαν εχη τις ευπροσδεκτος ου καθο ουκ εχει
13 For this task is not in order that others may be relieved and you may be burdened. Instead, there should be fairness.
ου γαρ ινα αλλοις ανεσις υμιν δε θλιψις αλλ εξ ισοτητος εν τω νυν καιρω το υμων περισσευμα εις το εκεινων υστερημα
14 Your abundance at the present time will supply what they need. This is also so that their abundance may supply your need, and so that there may be fairness.
ινα και το εκεινων περισσευμα γενηται εις το υμων υστερημα οπως γενηται ισοτης
15 It is as it is written: “The one with much did not have anything left over, and the one who had little did not have any lack.”
καθως γεγραπται ο το πολυ ουκ επλεονασεν και ο το ολιγον ουκ ηλαττονησεν
16 But thanks be to God, who put into Titus' heart the same earnest care that I have for you.
χαρις δε τω θεω τω διδοντι την αυτην σπουδην υπερ υμων εν τη καρδια τιτου
17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but he was also very earnest about it. He came to you of his own free will.
οτι την μεν παρακλησιν εδεξατο σπουδαιοτερος δε υπαρχων αυθαιρετος εξηλθεν προς υμας
18 We have sent with him the brother who is praised among all of the churches for his work in proclaiming the gospel.
συνεπεμψαμεν δε μετ αυτου τον αδελφον ου ο επαινος εν τω ευαγγελιω δια πασων των εκκλησιων
19 Not only this, but he also was selected by the churches to travel with us in our carrying out this act of grace. This is for the honor of the Lord himself and for our eagerness to help.
ου μονον δε αλλα και χειροτονηθεις υπο των εκκλησιων συνεκδημος ημων συν τη χαριτι ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ ημων προς την αυτου του κυριου δοξαν και προθυμιαν ημων
20 We are avoiding the possibility that anyone should complain about us concerning this generosity that we are carrying out.
στελλομενοι τουτο μη τις ημας μωμησηται εν τη αδροτητι ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ ημων
21 We take care to do what is honorable, not only before the Lord, but also before people.
προνοουμενοι καλα ου μονον ενωπιον κυριου αλλα και ενωπιον ανθρωπων
22 We are also sending another brother with them. We have tested him in many ways and found him diligent for many tasks. He is even more eager now because of the great confidence he has in you.
συνεπεμψαμεν δε αυτοις τον αδελφον ημων ον εδοκιμασαμεν εν πολλοις πολλακις σπουδαιον οντα νυνι δε πολυ σπουδαιοτερον πεποιθησει πολλη τη εις υμας
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are sent by the churches. They are an honor to Christ.
ειτε υπερ τιτου κοινωνος εμος και εις υμας συνεργος ειτε αδελφοι ημων αποστολοι εκκλησιων δοξα χριστου
24 So show them your love, and show to the churches the reason for our boasting about you.
την ουν ενδειξιν της αγαπης υμων και ημων καυχησεως υπερ υμων εις αυτους ενδειξασθε εις προσωπον των εκκλησιων
