2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Paul Sends Titus to Corinth to Receive the Offering
God put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. Thanks should be given to God for this. Titus welcomed our appeal. He is also excited about coming to you. It was his own idea. Along with Titus, we are sending another brother. All the churches praise him for his service in telling the good news. He was also chosen by the churches to go with us as we bring the offering. We are in charge of it. We want to honor the Lord himself. We want to show how ready we are to help. We want to keep anyone from blaming us for how we take care of that large gift. We are trying hard to do what both the Lord and people think is right.
We are also sending another one of our brothers with them. He has often proved to us in many ways that he is very committed. He is now even more committed because he has great faith in you. Titus is my helper. He and I work together among you. Our brothers are messengers from the churches. They honor Christ. So show them that you really love them. Show them why we are proud of you. Then the churches can see it.
2 Corinthians 9:1-5
I don’t need to write to you about giving to the Lord’s people. I know how much you want to help. I have been bragging about it to the people in Macedonia. I have been telling them that since last year you who live in Achaia were ready to give. You are so excited that it has stirred up most of them to take action. But I am sending the brothers. Then our bragging about you in this matter will have a good reason. You will be ready, just as I said you would be. Suppose people from Macedonia come with me and find out that you are not prepared. Then we, as well as you, would be ashamed of being so certain. So I thought I should try to get the brothers to visit you ahead of time. They will finish the plans for the large gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a gift freely given. It will not be given by force.
