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 bestowed on 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

That in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality.

3 οτι κατα δυναμιν μαρτυρω και παρα δυναμιν αυθαιρετοι

For to [their] power, I bear testimony, and even beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of themselves;

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

Praying us with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

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

And [this they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God:

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

So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same 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

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.

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

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity 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 be rich.

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

And in this 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.

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

Now therefore finish 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.

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

For if there is first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to what a man hath, [and] not according to what 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 mean] not that other men should be eased, and you burdened:

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

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:

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

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

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 the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

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

For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went to you.

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

And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise [is] in the gospel throughout 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 [that] only, but who was also chosen by 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:

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

Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

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

Providing for honest things, 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 often proved [to be] diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which [I have] in you.

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

If [any inquire] concerning Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren [be inquired of], [they are] the messengers of the churches, [and] 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

Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.