Προς Κορινθιους Β΄ 8

1 γνωριζομεν δε υμιν αδελφοι την χαριν του θεου την δεδομενην εν ταις εκκλησιαις της μακεδονιας

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;

2 οτι εν πολλη δοκιμη θλιψεως η περισσεια της χαρας αυτων και η κατα βαθους πτωχεια αυτων επερισσευσεν εις το πλουτος της απλοτητος αυτων

how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3 οτι κατα δυναμιν μαρτυρω και παρα δυναμιν αυθαιρετοι

For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, [they gave] of their own accord,

4 μετα πολλης παρακλησεως δεομενοι ημων την χαριν και την κοινωνιαν της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους

beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:

5 και ου καθως ηλπισαμεν αλλα εαυτους εδωκαν πρωτον τω κυριω και ημιν δια θεληματος θεου

and [this], not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

6 εις το παρακαλεσαι ημας τιτον ινα καθως προενηρξατο ουτως και επιτελεση εις υμας και την χαριν ταυτην

Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.

7 αλλ ωσπερ εν παντι περισσευετε πιστει και λογω και γνωσει και παση σπουδη και τη εξ ημων εν υμιν αγαπη ινα και εν ταυτη τη χαριτι περισσευητε

But as ye abound in everything, [in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all earnestness, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also.

8 ου κατ επιταγην λεγω αλλα δια της ετερων σπουδης και το της υμετερας αγαπης γνησιον δοκιμαζων

I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

9 γινωσκετε γαρ την χαριν του κυριου ημων ιησου {VAR1: [χριστου] } {VAR2: χριστου } οτι δι υμας επτωχευσεν πλουσιος ων ινα υμεις τη εκεινου πτωχεια πλουτησητε

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 become rich.

10 και γνωμην εν τουτω διδωμι τουτο γαρ υμιν συμφερει οιτινες ου μονον το ποιησαι αλλα και το θελειν προενηρξασθε απο περυσι

And herein I give [my] judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

11 νυνι δε και το ποιησαι επιτελεσατε οπως καθαπερ η προθυμια του θελειν ουτως και το επιτελεσαι εκ του εχειν

But now complete the doing also; that as [there was] the readiness to will, so [there may be] the completion also out of your ability.

12 ει γαρ η προθυμια προκειται καθο εαν εχη ευπροσδεκτος ου καθο ουκ εχει

For if the readiness is there, [it is] acceptable according as [a man] hath, not according as [he] hath not.

13 ου γαρ ινα αλλοις ανεσις υμιν θλιψις αλλ εξ ισοτητος εν τω νυν καιρω το υμων περισσευμα εις το εκεινων υστερημα

For [I say] not [this] that others may be eased [and] ye distressed;

14 ινα και το εκεινων περισσευμα γενηται εις το υμων υστερημα οπως γενηται ισοτης

but by equality: your abundance [being a supply] at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become [a supply] for your want; that there may be equality:

15 καθως γεγραπται ο το πολυ ουκ επλεονασεν και ο το ολιγον ουκ ηλαττονησεν

as it is written, He that [gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [gathered] little had no lack.

16 χαρις δε τω θεω τω {VAR1: διδοντι } {VAR2: δοντι } την αυτην σπουδην υπερ υμων εν τη καρδια τιτου

But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17 οτι την μεν παρακλησιν εδεξατο σπουδαιοτερος δε υπαρχων αυθαιρετος εξηλθεν προς υμας

For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.

18 συνεπεμψαμεν δε μετ αυτου τον αδελφον ου ο επαινος εν τω ευαγγελιω δια πασων των εκκλησιων

And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel [is spread] through all the churches;

19 ου μονον δε αλλα και χειροτονηθεις υπο των εκκλησιων συνεκδημος ημων {VAR1: εν } {VAR2: συν } τη χαριτι ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ ημων προς την {VAR2: [αυτου] } του κυριου δοξαν και προθυμιαν ημων

and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in [the matter of] this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and [to show] our readiness:

20 στελλομενοι τουτο μη τις ημας μωμησηται εν τη αδροτητι ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ ημων

avoiding this, that any man should blame us in [the matter of] this bounty which is ministered by us:

21 προνοουμεν γαρ καλα ου μονον ενωπιον κυριου αλλα και ενωπιον ανθρωπων

for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 συνεπεμψαμεν δε αυτοις τον αδελφον ημων ον εδοκιμασαμεν εν πολλοις πολλακις σπουδαιον οντα νυνι δε πολυ σπουδαιοτερον πεποιθησει πολλη τη εις υμας

And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which [he hath] in you.

23 ειτε υπερ τιτου κοινωνος εμος και εις υμας συνεργος ειτε αδελφοι ημων αποστολοι εκκλησιων δοξα χριστου

Whether [any inquire] about Titus, [he is] my partner and [my] fellow-worker to you-ward; or our brethren, [they are] the messengers of the churches, [they are] the glory of Christ.

24 την ουν ενδειξιν της αγαπης υμων και ημων καυχησεως υπερ υμων εις αυτους {VAR1: ενδειξασθε } {VAR2: ενδεικνυμενοι } εις προσωπον των εκκλησιων

Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.