Act 24:17, Rom 15:25, 1Cor 16:1, 2Cor 8-9 | ESV | STEP | Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.

1 Now concerning ^{▼▼The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1; also verse 12} ^gthe collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.

2 Corinthians 8

Encouragement to Give Generously

1 We want you to know, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} about the grace of God that has been ⁱgiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ^jtheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave ^kaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly ^lfor the favor ^{▼▼The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context} of taking part in ⁿthe relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they ^ogave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, ^pwe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^qthis act of grace. 7 But as ^ryou excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you ^{▼▼Some manuscripts in your love for us}— ^tsee that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 ^uI say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^vthough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter ^wI give my judgment: ^xthis benefits you, who ^ya year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable ^zaccording to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply ^aatheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, ^ab“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

16 But ^acthanks be to God, ^adwho put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For ^aehe not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going ^{▼▼Or he went} to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending ^{▼▼Or we sent; also verse 22} ^ahthe brother who is famous among ^aiall the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been ^ajappointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of ^akgrace that is being ministered by us, ^alfor the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for ^amwe aim at what is honorable ^annot only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is ^aomy partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers ^{▼▼Greek apostles} of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of ^aqour boasting about you to these men.

2 Corinthians 9

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

1 Now ^arit is superfluous for me to write to you about ^asthe ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, ^atof which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready ^ausince last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But ^avI am sending ^{▼▼Or I have sent} the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, ^axas I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians ^aycome with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the ^azgift ^{▼▼Greek blessing; twice in this verse} you have promised, so that it may be ready ^bbas a willing gift, ^bcnot as an exaction. ^{▼▼Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed}

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: ^bewhoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully ^{▼▼Greek with blessings; twice in this verse} will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, ^bgnot reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^bhGod loves a cheerful giver. 8 And ^biGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency ^{▼▼Or all contentment} in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

^bk“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies ^blseed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^bmincrease the harvest of your righteousness. 11 ^bnYou will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which ^bothrough us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying ^bpthe needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, ^bqthey ^{▼▼Or you} will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your ^bsconfession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 ^btThanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!