1Now, brothers, we wish to make known to you the charis(grace) of God which has been given in the ekklesiai(called-out communities) of Macedonia,
2that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their generosity.
3For I testify that according to their dynamis(ability, power), and beyond their dynamis(ability, power), they gave of their own accord,
4begging us with much paraklesis(the act of coming alongside to call, comfort, exhortation) for the favor of koinonia(participation, fellowship) in the support of the hagioi(holy ones),
5and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the thelema(will) of God.
6So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this charis(grace) also.
7But just as you abound in everything, in faith and logos(word) and gnosis(knowledge) and in all earnestness and in the agape(love) we inspired in you, see that you abound in this charis(grace) also.
8I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your agape(love) also.
9For you know the charis(grace) of our Lord Yeshua(Jesus) Messiah(Christ), that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
10I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
11But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
12For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality —
14at this present kairos(appointed-time) your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;
15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack."
16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the kardia(heart, soul-domain) of Titus.
17For he not only accepted our paraklesis(the act of coming alongside to call, comfort, exhortation), but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
18We have sent along with him the brother whose praise in the good news has spread through all the ekklesiai(called-out communities);
19and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the ekklesiai(called-out communities) to travel with us in this charis(grace) which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness,
20taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;
21for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
23As for Titus, he is my koinonos(partner) and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the ekklesiai(called-out communities), a glory of Messiah(Christ).
24Therefore openly before the ekklesiai(called-out communities), show them the proof of your agape(love) and of our reason for boasting about you.