2 Corinthians 8 Now, brothers (= fellow believers and family members; = members of the body), we are continuing to make known to you the joyous favor from, and which has the character and quality of, God (or: the grace which is God), which has been given and now continues as a gift among the called-out folks (or: in union with the called-out communities) of Macedonia,

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Now, brothers (= fellow believers and family members; = members of the body), we are continuing to make known to you the joyous favor from, and which has the character and quality of, God (or: the grace which is God), which has been given and now continues as a gift among the called-out folks (or: in union with the called-out communities) of Macedonia, ² how that within the midst of much testing and proving which came through pressure, tribulation, oppression and affliction, the superabundance of their joy – also contrasted with the depth of their destitution (poverty, and/or life as beggars) – superabounds into the wealth (or: riches) of their singleness [of heart and purpose] and simplicity (un-complexity; or: openness and sincerity in generous sharing with others), ³ because – I continue bearing witness and testifying that – corresponding to [their] power and in accord with [their] ability, and even beyond [their] actual power and ability, [they are] those who act spontaneously and voluntarily from their own initiative, ⁴ with much appeal and calling of us to their side to give us relief, assistance and encouragement, repeatedly and constantly begging of us the grace (or: the favor) and the common participation (partnership and sharing from common existence) of the attending service which pertains to the dispensing into the set-apart folks (the holy ones; the saints). ⁵ And not according as we expected, but rather they gave themselves first to the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh; p46 & others read: God], and even (or: also) to us, through the effect of God's will and purpose, ⁶ [leading] us to assist and encourage Titus, so that, just as he did before in the beginning, thus also he should fully finish and complete even this favor unto you folks (or: he should bring this grace to its goal: even into you people). ⁷ But further, even as you folks continuously superabound within everything – in faith (or: trust; loyalty) and word (thought; idea; reason; message) and experiential knowledge, as well as with all haste to earnest diligence, and in the love from out of the midst of us [that is] within the midst of you [other MSS: the love from you [that is] within us] – that you may be progressively superabounding in this grace, also. ⁸ I am not now saying [this] down from some arrangement put upon [you], but still [I am] also continuing in testing and proving the legitimacy of the birth (or: the genuineness) of the love, which belongs to you, through means of the haste to earnest and diligent care from different folks. ⁹ For you people continue knowing by experience the grace of Jesus Christ (or: the favor whose source and being is Jesus [the] Anointed), our Lord (Master; Owner), that although continuously existing being rich (wealthy), because of and for the sake of you folks He became destitute and led the life of a beggar, to the end that by and in the destitution and poverty of That One, you yourselves could (or: should; may; would) come to be rich (wealthy). ¹⁰ And so, in this [testing and proving], I am now offering knowledge gained from my experience, for this [topic] is progressing to bring things together for you, to your benefit and expedience – you who from a year ago were first in making a beginning not only to do, but even to desire and purpose [it] – ¹¹ even so now, bring the doing to its goal (fully accomplish the performing and the producing), so that – even as the eagerness to will (or: the propensity to rush ahead to the purpose) – thus also [may be] the accomplishing of the goal, from out of [your] possessions and holdings. ¹² You see, if the eagerness continues lying before [a person], [it is] well-embraced and very acceptable – in proportion to whatever one may normally possess (have and hold), not corresponding to what he does not normally have. ¹³ For, you see, [the situation is] not that to (or: for; in; with) other folks [there is] a letting up with relief and ease, yet to (or: for; in; with) you folks [there is] pressure with tribulation, oppression and affliction (or: = hardship), ¹⁴ but to the contrary, out of the fairness and equity of equality within the present season (or: by an equalization in the current occasion and situation), your superabundance (or: your encompassing surplus-result) [can flow] into the lack resulting from the shortcoming of those folks (= offset their deficiency), keeping in mind that the superabundance (or: surplus-effect) of those folks could also at some point birth itself into the lack resulting from your shortcoming (= offset your deficiency), so that an equalizing can occur. ¹⁵ [This is] just as it has been written, "the person [who gathered] the great quantity did not have too much, and the person [who gathered] the small amount did not have too little." [Ex. 16:18] ¹⁶ Now grace [is] in and with God (or: Yet favor [is] by God; or, perhaps: But thanks [be] to God) – in (or: by; with) the One constantly imparting within the heart of Titus this very same haste and earnest, diligent care over you folks, ¹⁷ because [Titus] indeed embraced and responded to the comfort, relief, assistance and encouragement (the influence of the Paraclete), and being inherently quicker to earnest diligence, spontaneously and of his own accord went forth to you folks. ¹⁸ So we sent together with him the (or: his) brother whose full approval (praise and added applause) in connection with the good news (the message of goodness, ease and well-being) [has spread] in every direction through all the called-out folks (or: called-out communities) ¹⁹ – yet not only [this], but further, [he is] also one having had hands extended, spread wide and pulled tight [note: either, in love, or in "selecting" him] by the called-out folks, [being] our traveling companion within this grace and favor [other MSS: together with this grace] which is being progressively dispensed and constantly given in attending service by us [moving with a view] toward the Lord's glory (good reputation; manifestation which calls forth praise to Christ and Yahweh), and [to] a rushing forward with strong emotion and eagerness which pertains to us (or: toward our Owner's glory and propensity to eagerly rushing with strong feelings) – ²⁰ [we] being those progressively ordering and arranging this for ourselves: [that] no one can find fault with us (or: may find flaws or defects in us) in connection with this ripe maturity which is being progressively dispensed in attending service by us. ²¹ For we "habitually give forethought for providing beautiful things, ideal [situations] and fine [insights] – not only in [the] Lord's [= Yahweh's] sight, but also in the sight of people (humans)." [Prov. 3:4 LXX] ²² Now we send (or: sent) our brother, together with them, whom we often tested and proved as continually being quick to be earnest and diligent in many things, yet now much more quickly and with more earnest diligence, but with great confidence, which [he imparts] into you folks. ²³ So whether concerning Titus – my partner (person of common being and existence) and co-worker [dispensing] into you people – or whether our brothers (= fellow believers), [they are] those sent forth pertaining to the called-out folks: Christ's glory (or: [these are] emissaries and representatives who belong to the called-out communities – a good reputation for the Anointed One and a manifestation which brings Him praise). ²⁴ Therefore, show within [other MSS: be continuously being ones showing within] the display and demonstration of your love – and of our boasting over you – into the face (= presence, or persons) of the called-out folks (or: the called-out communities).