Προς Κορινθιους Β΄ 8

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

Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given 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

In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.

3 οτι κατα δυναμιν μαρτυρω και παρα δυναμιν αυθαιρετοι

For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,

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

they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

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

And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.

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

So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.

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 just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

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

I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.

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 you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you 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 this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.

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

Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means.

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

For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

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

It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

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

At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality.

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

As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”

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 put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.

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

For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.

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

Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel.

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

More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering —the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

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

We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.

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

For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes 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 are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.

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

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, to 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

In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.