1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 7Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 16But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 18And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 19And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: 21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 23Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Poziv na darežljivost
1A sada bih vam, braćo, htio reći o milosti koju je Bog iskazao crkvama u Makedoniji. 2Iako su ljudi tamo proživjeli brojne kušnje i nevolje, obilovali su radošću te je njihovo krajnje siromaštvo urodilo izobilnom darežljivošću. 3Svjedok sam, naime, da su dragovoljno dali ne samo ono što su mogli već i mnogo više. 4Usrdno su nas molili za milost da mogu sudjelovati u prikupljanju pomoći za svete. 5Ne samo da su se ponijeli kako smo se nadali već su sami sebe prije svega stavili na raspolaganje Gospodinu, a onda i nama, pokoravajući se Božjoj volji.
6Zamolili smo zato Tita, koji vas je prvi potaknuo na darivanje, da se vrati k vama i ohrabri vas da dovršite svoj udjel u toj službi darivanja. 7Vi ste u svemu odlični—imate toliko vjere, toliko nadarenih propovjednika, toliko znanje i revnost, takvu ljubav prema nama—istaknite se sada i u ovoj milosrdnoj službi! 8Ne zapovijedam vam to, već vam kao primjer navodim revnost drugih da bih iskušao iskrenost vaše ljubavi.
9Znate kakvu nam je milost iskazao Gospodin Isus Krist. Radi vas je od bogataša postao siromahom, da bi vas svojim siromaštvom mogao obogatiti.
10Savjetujem vam samo da dovršite ono što ste započeli još prije godinu dana, jer ste vi prvi došli na tu zamisao i prvi ste ju počeli ostvarivati. 11Sada biste tu zamisao trebali provesti do kraja s istim oduševljenjem s kojim ste ju i započeli. Darujte koliko možete, prema svojim mogućnostima. 12Ako ste doista spremni darivati druge, nije važno koliko možete dati. Bog očekuje da date ono što imate, a ne ono što nemate. 13Nije nakana da pomognete drugima, a da vi zapadnete u oskudicu, već da bude jednakost. 14Sada vi obilujete i možete njima pomoći. Nekom drugom prigodom, kad vama bude trebalo, oni će svoj suvišak podijeliti s vama. Tako će svačije potrebe biti jednako zadovoljene. 15Sjećate li se što o tome piše u Svetome pismu:
“Onima koji su mnogo skupili,
ništa nije ostalo,
a oni koji su skupili malo,
imali su dovoljno.”8:15 Izlazak 16:18.
Tit i suputnici
16Zahvalan sam Bogu da je Titu u srce ulio jednaku gorljivost za vas kao i meni. 17Spremno je prihvatio našu molbu da vas posjetimo, ali rekao bih da bi vas on i sam drage volje obišao. 18S njime vam šaljemo još jednog brata, dobro poznatoga u svim crkvama po zaslugama u propovijedanju Radosne vijesti. 19Njega su crkve odabrale da nas prati kad budemo nosili dar u Jeruzalem8:19 Vidjeti: 1 Korinćanima 16:3-4. služeći na slavu Gospodinu i pokazujući svoju revnost. 20Tako ćemo izbjegnuti i da tko prigovori zbog načina na koji upravljamo tim velikodušnim iznosom. 21Trudimo se tako činiti dobro pred Bogom, ali i pred ljudima.
22Šaljemo s njima još jednoga brata koji je višestruko prokušan i pokazao se revnim. Sada je još revniji zbog velikog pouzdanja u vas. 23Upita li vas tko za Tita, recite mu da je on moj suradnik na pomaganju vama. A ta su braća izaslanici svojih crkava, ljudi na slavu Kristu. 24Pokažite im stoga da ih volite i dokažite svim crkvama da sam vas s razlogom hvalio.
