2 Corinthians 8:3

Excel in Giving

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and ^atheir deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

4 imploring us with much urgency¹ that we would receive the gift and ^athe fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first ^agave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the ^bwill of God.

6 So ^awe urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

7 But as ^ayou abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see ^bthat you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern

8 ^aI speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^athat though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become ^brich.

10 And in this ^aI give advice: ^bIt is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and ^cwere desiring to do a year ago;

11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

12 For ^aif there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

15 As it is written, ^a“He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Collection for the Judean Saints

16 But thanks be to God who¹ puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

Verse Comparison: 2 Corinthians 8:3

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2 Corinthians 8:4 >>

American Standard Version
For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, `they gave' of their own accord,

Amplified® Bible
For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily,

Contemporary English Version
They gave as much as they could afford and even more, simply because they wanted to.

Darby English Version
For according to [their] power, I bear witness, and beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of their own accord,

Good News Bible
I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. Of their own free will

International Standard Version
I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability.

King James Version
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

New American Standard Bible
For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, {they gave} of their own accord,

New International Version
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,

New King James Version
For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,

Young's Literal Translation
because, according to `their' power, I testify, and above `their' power, they were willing of themselves,

New English Translation
For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,¹

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