Prikupljanje milodara za jeruzalemske kršćane
1Nije, razumije se, ni potrebno da vam više pišem o tome milodaru za svete u Jeruzalemu. 2Znam kako ste gorljivi u pomaganju i time sam vas hvalio pred Makedoncima, ističući da su u Ahaji bili pripravni davati još od lani. Svojom ste gorljivošću potaknuli i mnoge druge da počnu pomagati. 3Šaljem vam ovu braću kako bih bio siguran da ste zaista spremni kao što sam se hvalio da ćete biti. 4Bio bih posramljen, a i vi također, kad bi sa mnom došli neki Makedonci, a vi bili nepripremljeni. 5Zato sam poslao braću da odu k vama prije nas i da se pobrinu da vaš već obećani dar bude spreman. Ali htio bih da on bude iskaz velikodušnosti, a ne škrtarenja.
6Poslušajte me: tko škrto posije, škrto će i žeti; tko sije obilno, i žet će obilno. 7Neka svatko odluči koliko će dati, ali od srca, a ne teška srca ili na silu, jer Bog voli darovatelje dragovoljna srca. 8Bog po svojoj milosti može na vas izliti svakovrsno obilje tako da imate svega dovoljno i da vam još pretekne, da činite dobra djela. 9U Svetome pismu piše:
Pravedan čovjek “daje siromahu obilno.
Njegova dobra djela nikada neće biti zaboravljena.”9:9 Psalam 112:9.
10Jer Bog koji daje sjeme za sjetvu, daje i kruh za jelo. On će jednako tako umnožiti vaše sjeme i dati da u vama uzrastu plodovi vaše pravednosti.
11Bog će vam dati obilje da biste ga mogli darežljivo dijeliti s drugim ljudima, pa će oni za vaš dar zahvaljivati Bogu. 12Tako ćete ispunjavanjem te svete zadaće ne samo namiriti potrebe svetih u Jeruzalemu koji su u oskudici već ćete i mnogima dati povoda da zahvaljuju Bogu. 13Oni će zahvaljivati Bogu za vašu prokušanost u toj službi milosrđa i hvaliti ga zbog vašega pokoravanja Kristovoj Radosnoj vijesti, što ste pokazali dijeleći dobra s njima i s drugima. 14S velikom će ljubavi moliti za vas zbog divne Božje milosti koju je Bog na vas izlio.
15Hvala Bogu za njegova Sina—za njegov neizrecivo dragocjeni dar!
1For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
