1 Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace {charis: unearned favor} of God {Theos, Gracious Giver} that has been given to the churches of Macedonia.
2 For in a great testing {dokime: refining ordeal} of affliction, the overflow of their joy and their poverty to the depths spilled out into rich generosity {haplotes: openhanded giving}.
3 For I bear witness that they gave according to their ability {dynamin: personal capacity}, and even beyond their ability, of their own accord {authairetoi: freely chosen action}.
4 With much urging, they kept pleading with us for the favor {charis: gracious privilege} and the participation {koinonia: active sharing} in the ministry to the saints.
5 They exceeded what we had hoped by giving themselves first to the Lord {Kyrios, Recipient Of Devotion} and then to us through the will of God {Theos, Sovereign Enabler}.
6 So we appealed to Titus {Titos: reliable delegate}, asking him to see to it that, just as he had begun, he would also complete this act of grace {charis: generous ministry} among you.
7 But just as you abound in everything—in faith, and in word, and in knowledge, and in all diligence {spoude: eager commitment}, and in the love you have for us—so also you may abound in this grace {charis: empowering favor}.
8 I am not speaking according to command {epitagen: authoritative directive}, but through the earnestness of others and as testing the genuineness of your love {agape: self-giving devotion}.
9 For you know the grace {charis: undeserved favor} of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Self-Giving Redeemer}, that though He was rich, for your sake He chose to become poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich.
10 And in this I give my judgment {gnomen: considered opinion}, because this is beneficial {sympherei: truly advantageous} for you who from last year began not only to do it but also to will it.
11 Now also complete the doing, so that just as there was the eagerness {prothymia: wholehearted readiness} to will, so also there may be the completing out of what you have {echein: available resources}.
12 For if the willingness {prothymia: inner readiness} is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have {ouk echei: truly lacks}.
13 For it is not that relief {anesis: easing of burdens} should be for others and affliction for you, but that it should be grounded in equality {isotetos: fairness in support}.
14 At this time {kairo: opportune season}, your surplus meets their need, so that later their surplus may meet your need, resulting in equality {isotes: balanced distribution}.
15 Just as it has been written, “The one who had much {polu: large amount} did not have excess, and the one who had little {oligon: small share} did not lack.”
16 Yet we give thanks to God {Theos, Giver of Earnest Care}, who grants the same earnestness {spoude: diligent concern} for you in the heart of Titus.
17 For he indeed accepted the appeal {paraklesin: earnest request}, but being more diligent, he went out to you of his own accord {authairetos: freely chosen}.
18 But we sent the brother {adelphos: trusted coworker} with him, whose commendation in the gospel is in all the churches {ekklesia: gathered congregations}.
19 And not only this, but he was appointed by the churches as our companion in travel with this grace, which is being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord {Kyrios, Worthy of Glory} and our eagerness {prothymia: zealous readiness}.
20 We are taking precautions so that no one can blame us for this abundance {hadrotes: overflowing generosity} that is administered {diakonoumenē: structured stewardship} by us.
21 For we provide what is good, not only before the Lord {Kyrios, Divine Evaluator} but also before people {anthropos: human community}.
22 But we have sent together with them our brother, whom we have tested {dokimazo: carefully examined} to be diligent in many things many times, and now he is much more diligent because of the great confidence {pepoithesei: assured trust} we have in you.
23 Whether it is about Titus, he is my partner {koinonos: sharer in ministry} and coworker for you, or whether it is about our brothers, they are messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ {Christos, Exalted Lord}.
24 Therefore, show to them, before the face of the churches {ekklesia: local assemblies}, the proof {endeixis: visible evidence} of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.