The Collection for the Lord’s People
1And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
10And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”8:15 Exodus 16:18
Titus Sent to Receive the Collection
16Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.
22In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
鼓励信徒慷慨捐助
1弟兄姊妹，我们现在要让你们知道上帝向马其顿各教会所施的恩典。 2他们虽然遭遇极大的患难，受尽熬炼，却充满了喜乐，在极度贫穷的情况下仍然十分慷慨乐捐。 3我可以证明，他们是甘心乐意，尽其所能地捐助，甚至超过了自己的能力。 4他们恳求我们准许他们参与供应有需要的圣徒。 5他们这样做超过了我们的期望，并且他们按照上帝的旨意首先把自己献给主，然后献给我们。
6所以，我们劝提多要继续完成他早先在你们当中开始的这件善事。 7你们既然在信心、口才、知识、热心和对我们的爱心上都有突出的表现，也要在这件善事上有突出的表现。 8我说这话并非命令你们，而是借着别人的热心考验一下你们爱心的真伪。 9因为你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典，祂本来富足，却为你们的缘故变得贫穷，使你们借着祂的贫穷可以变得富足。
10关于捐助的事，我把自己的意见告诉你们：你们一年前开始捐助，并且甘心乐意——这对你们有益。 11你们要有始有终，既有恳切愿意的心，就要量力而行，办妥这事。 12因为人只要按自己的能力甘心乐意地去做，必蒙上帝悦纳，上帝不会让人做力所不逮之事。 13这不是说要别人脱离困境，要你们陷入困境，而是要均平。 14现在你们这些富足的人可以帮补那些有需要的人，以便你们有需要的时候，那些富足的人也可以帮补你们，这样就可以均平了。 15正如圣经上说：“多拾的没有剩余，少拾的也没有缺乏。”8:15 出埃及记16:18。
托人送捐款
16感谢上帝！祂感动了提多的心，使他像我一样热诚地关怀你们。 17这固然是他听了我们的劝告，但也是他自己非常热诚，自愿去你们那里。 18我们还要派一位弟兄和他同去，这位弟兄在传福音的事上得到各地教会的赞许。 19此外，他还受各教会的委派与我们同行，把交给我们的捐款送去，使主得荣耀，并表明我们热诚相助的心。 20我们这样做是为了避免有人挑我们的不是，因我们经手的捐款数目可观。 21无论在主面前或在人面前，我们务求行事为人光明磊落。
22我们还要再派一位弟兄和他们一同去你们那里。我们经过多次多方的考验，证实他很热心，而且他因为十分信任你们，现在更热心了。 23至于提多，他是我的同伴，与我一同服侍你们。另外两位弟兄是众教会的代表，是基督的荣耀。 24所以，你们要在众教会面前向他们证明你们的爱心，以及我夸耀你们的话并非虚言。
