⁴ begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

⁵ This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

⁶ So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.

⁷ But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.

⁸ I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

¹⁰ I give advice in this: it is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

¹¹ But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

¹² For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

¹³ For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

¹⁴ but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack, that there may be equality.

¹⁵ As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”