2 Corinthians 8 — SBL Greek New Testament

Γνωρίζομεν δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δεδομένην ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Μακεδονίας,

Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God given in the churches of Macedonia,

For in much testing of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.

3

ὅτι κατὰ δύναμιν, μαρτυρῶ, καὶ παρὰ δύναμιν, αὐθαίρετοι

For according to ability, I testify, and beyond ability, voluntarily

4

μετὰ πολλῆς παρακλήσεως δεόμενοι ἡμῶν, τὴν χάριν καὶ τὴν κοινωνίαν τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους--

with much urging, pleading with us for the grace and the fellowship of the service to the saints—

5

καὶ οὐ καθὼς ἠλπίσαμεν ἀλλ' ἑαυτοὺς ἔδωκαν πρῶτον τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἡμῖν διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ,

and not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by the will of God,

6

εἰς τὸ παρακαλέσαι ἡμᾶς Τίτον ἵνα καθὼς προενήρξατο οὕτως καὶ ἐπιτελέσῃ εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ τὴν χάριν ταύτην·

To encourage us through Titus, so that just as he began beforehand, he may also complete this grace in you.

7

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, speech, knowledge, and every eagerness, and in the love from us in you—so that you may also excel in this grace.

8

Οὐ κατ' ἐπιταγὴν λέγω ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἑτέρων σπουδῆς καὶ τὸ τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀγάπης γνήσιον δοκιμάζων·

I am not commanding, but testing the earnestness of others and proving the genuineness of your love.

9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

10

And I give this opinion: for it is beneficial for you, who not only began to do it but also to desire it since last year.

11

νυνὶ δὲ καὶ τὸ ποιῆσαι ἐπιτελέσατε, ὅπως καθάπερ ἡ προθυμία τοῦ θέλειν οὕτως καὶ τὸ ἐπιτελέσαι ἐκ τοῦ ἔχειν.

Now complete the doing as well, so that just as the eagerness to want was present, so also the completion may come from what one has.

12

εἰ γὰρ ἡ προθυμία πρόκειται, καθὸ ἐὰν ἔχῃ εὐπρόσδεκτος, οὐ καθὸ οὐκ ἔχει.

For if the eagerness is present, it is accepted according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

13

οὐ γὰρ ἵνα ἄλλοις ἄνεσις, ὑμῖν θλῖψις· ἀλλ' ἐξ ἰσότητος

For it is not that others may have relief while you have hardship, but that there may be equality.

14

At the present time, your surplus is for their need, so that their surplus may also become for your need, in order that there may be equality.

15

καθὼς γέγραπται· Ὁ τὸ πολὺ οὐκ ἐπλεόνασεν, καὶ ὁ τὸ ὀλίγον οὐκ ἠλαττόνησεν.

As it is written: The one who had much did not have more, and the one who had little did not have less.

16

Χάρις δὲ τῷ θεῷ τῷ διδόντι τὴν αὐτὴν σπουδὴν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ Τίτου,

Thanks be to God who gave the same earnestness for you in the heart of Titus,

17

ὅτι τὴν μὲν παράκλησιν ἐδέξατο, σπουδαιότερος δὲ ὑπάρχων αὐθαίρετος ἐξῆλθεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

Because he received the encouragement, but being more earnest, he went to you voluntarily.

18

συνεπέμψαμεν δὲ μετ' αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀδελφὸν οὗ ὁ ἔπαινος ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ διὰ πασῶν τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν--

And we sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches—

19

Not only that, but also having been appointed by the churches, he is a fellow traveler with us in this grace which is being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord himself and for our eagerness—

20

στελλόμενοι τοῦτο μή τις ἡμᾶς μωμήσηται ἐν τῇ ἁδρότητι ταύτῃ τῇ διακονουμένῃ ὑφ' ἡμῶν,

We are sending this so that no one may blame us regarding the generosity being administered by us.

21

προνοοῦμεν γὰρ καλὰ οὐ μόνον ἐνώπιον κυρίου ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐνώπιον ἀνθρώπων.

For we take care to do what is right not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of people.

22

And we have sent with them our brother whom we have tested in many things, often earnest, but now much more earnest by reason of the great confidence in you.

23

εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, κοινωνὸς ἐμὸς καὶ εἰς ὑμᾶς συνεργός· εἴτε ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν, ἀπόστολοι ἐκκλησιῶν, δόξα Χριστοῦ.

Whether for Titus, my partner and fellow worker for you, or for our brothers, apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24

τὴν οὖν ἔνδειξιν τῆς ἀγάπης ὑμῶν καὶ ἡμῶν καυχήσεως ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν εἰς αὐτοὺς ἐνδεικνύμενοι εἰς πρόσωπον τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν.

Therefore the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf is being shown to them before the churches.