2 Korintus 8:1-5

Completing the Collection for the Saints

8:1 Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, ¹  the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 8:2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth ²  of their generosity. 8:3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, ³  8:4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping ⁴  the saints. 8:5 And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

2 Korintus 8:11-12

8:11 to finish what you started, ⁵  so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, ⁶  you can also complete it ⁷  according to your means. ⁸  8:12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself ⁹  is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.

[8:1]  ¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.

[8:2]  ² tn Or “riches.”

[8:3]  ³ tn Or “spontaneously.”

[8:4]  ⁴ tn Or “of ministering to.”

[8:11]  ⁵ tn Grk “and now also complete the doing.”

[8:11]  ⁶ tn Grk “just as the eagerness to want [it].”

[8:11]  ⁷ tn Grk “so also it might be completed.” The passive construction was converted to an active one in the translation in keeping with contemporary English style.

[8:11]  ⁸ tn Grk “completed from what you have.”

[8:12]  ⁹ tn The words “the gift itself” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Translators often supply an English phrase like “it is” (NASB) but in the context, Paul is clearly referring to the collection Titus was to oversee (2 Cor 8:4-7). Therefore there is no reason not to specify the referent (the gift) more narrowly for clarity.