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Chapter 9
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
1
Now… about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.
γὰρ μὲν Περὶ τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους ἐστιν περισσόν μοί τὸ γράφειν ὑμῖν gar men Peri tēs diakonias tēs eis tous hagious estin perisson moi to graphein hymin — NA/TR · 1
2
For I know your eagerness [to help], [and] I have been boasting to [the] Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared [ to give ]. And your zeal has stirred most of them [ to do likewise ].
γὰρ οἶδα ὑμῶν τὴν προθυμίαν ἣν καυχῶμαι Μακεδόσιν ὅτι ἀπὸ πέρυσι ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν Ἀχαΐα παρεσκεύασται καὶ ὑμῶν τὸ ζῆλος ἠρέθισεν τοὺς πλείονας gar oida hymōn tēn prothymian hēn kauchōmai Makedosin hoti apo perysi hyper hymōn Achaia pareskeuastai kai hymōn to zēlos ērethisen tous pleionas — NA/TR · 2
3
But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter vvv should not prove empty, [but] that you will be prepared, just as I said.
δὲ Ἔπεμψα τοὺς ἀδελφούς ἵνα ἡμῶν τὸ καύχημα τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐν τούτῳ τῷ μέρει μὴ κενωθῇ ἵνα ἦτε παρεσκευασμένοι καθὼς ἔλεγον de Epempsa tous adelphous hina hēmōn to kauchēma to hyper hymōn en toutō tō merei mē kenōthē hina ēte pareskeuasmenoi kathōs elegon — NA/TR · 3
4
Otherwise…, if [any] Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we— to say nothing of you— would be ashamed of [having been] so confident.
μή πως ἐὰν Μακεδόνες ἔλθωσιν σὺν ἐμοὶ καὶ εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους ἡμεῖς ἵνα λέγωμεν μὴ ὑμεῖς καταισχυνθῶμεν ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ ὑποστάσει mē pōs ean Makedones elthōsin syn emoi kai heurōsin hymas aparaskeuastous hēmeis hina legōmen mē hymeis kataischynthōmen en tautē tē hypostasei — NA/TR · 4
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So I thought [it] necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand… and make arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. This way, your [gift] will be prepared vvv generously and not vvv begrudgingly.
οὖν ἡγησάμην ἀναγκαῖον παρακαλέσαι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἵνα προέλθωσιν εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ προκαταρτίσωσιν τὴν εὐλογίαν προεπηγγελμένην οὕτως ὑμῶν ταύτην εἶναι ἑτοίμην ὡς εὐλογίαν καὶ μὴ ὡς πλεονεξίαν oun hēgēsamēn anankaion parakalesai tous adelphous hina proelthōsin eis hymas kai prokatartisōsin tēn eulogian proepēngelmenēn houtōs hymōn tautēn einai hetoimēn hōs eulogian kai mē hōs pleonexian — NA/TR · 5
6
[Remember] this: Whoever sows sparingly {will} also reap sparingly, and whoever sows vvv generously {will} also reap vvv generously.
δέ Τοῦτο ὁ σπείρων φειδομένως καὶ θερίσει φειδομένως καὶ ὁ σπείρων ἐπ’ εὐλογίαις καὶ θερίσει ἐπ’ εὐλογίαις de Touto ho speirōn pheidomenōs kai therisei pheidomenōs kai ho speirōn ep’ eulogiais kai therisei ep’ eulogiais — NA/TR · 6
7
Each one [ should give ] what he has decided in [his] heart [to give ], not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
ἕκαστος καθὼς προῄρηται τῇ καρδίᾳ μὴ ἐκ λύπης ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης γὰρ ὁ Θεός ἀγαπᾷ ἱλαρὸν δότην hekastos kathōs proērētai tē kardia mē ek lypēs ē ex anankēs gar ho Theos agapa hilaron dotēn — NA/TR · 7
8
And God [is] able {to make} all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
δὲ ὁ Θεὸς δυνατεῖ πᾶσαν χάριν περισσεῦσαι εἰς ὑμᾶς ἵνα ἐν παντὶ πάντοτε ἔχοντες πᾶσαν αὐτάρκειαν περισσεύητε εἰς πᾶν ἀγαθόν ἔργον de ho Theos dynatei pasan charin perisseusai eis hymas hina en panti pantote echontes pasan autarkeian perisseuēte eis pan agathon ergon — NA/TR · 8
9
As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever…”
καθὼς γέγραπται Ἐσκόρπισεν ἔδωκεν τοῖς πένησιν αὐτοῦ ἡ δικαιοσύνη μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα kathōs gegraptai Eskorpisen edōken tois penēsin autou hē dikaiosynē menei eis ton aiōna — NA/TR · 9
10
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.
δὲ Ὁ ἐπιχορηγῶν σπόρον τῷ σπείροντι καὶ ἄρτον εἰς βρῶσιν χορηγήσει καὶ πληθυνεῖ ὑμῶν τὸν σπόρον καὶ αὐξήσει τὰ γενήματα τῆς ὑμῶν δικαιοσύνης de Ho epichorēgōn sporon tō speironti kai arton eis brōsin chorēgēsei kai plēthynei hymōn ton sporon kai auxēsei ta genēmata tēs hymōn dikaiosynēs — NA/TR · 10
11
You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every [occasion], [and] through us [your generosity] will produce thanksgiving to God.
πλουτιζόμενοι ἐν παντὶ εἰς ἁπλότητα πᾶσαν ἥτις δι’ ἡμῶν κατεργάζεται εὐχαριστίαν τῷ Θεῷ ploutizomenoi en panti eis haplotēta pasan hētis di’ hēmōn katergazetai eucharistian tō Theō — NA/TR · 11
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For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but vvv is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
ὅτι ταύτης ἡ διακονία τῆς λειτουργίας ἐστὶν οὐ μόνον προσαναπληροῦσα τὰ ὑστερήματα τῶν ἁγίων ἀλλὰ καὶ περισσεύουσα διὰ πολλῶν εὐχαριστιῶν τῷ Θεῷ hoti tautēs hē diakonia tēs leitourgias estin ou monon prosanaplērousa ta hysterēmata tōn hagiōn alla kai perisseuousa dia pollōn eucharistiōn tō Theō — NA/TR · 12
13
Because of the proof this ministry {provides}, [the saints] will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and [for the] generosity of [your] contribution to them and to all [the others].
διὰ τῆς δοκιμῆς ταύτης τῆς διακονίας δοξάζοντες Θεὸν τὸν ἐπὶ τῇ ὑμῶν τῆς ὑποταγῇ ὁμολογίας εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἁπλότητι τῆς κοινωνίας εἰς αὐτοὺς καὶ εἰς πάντας dia tēs dokimēs tautēs tēs diakonias doxazontes Theon ton epi tē hymōn tēs hypotagē homologias eis to euangelion tou Christou kai haplotēti tēs koinōnias eis autous kai eis pantas — NA/TR · 13
14
And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God [has given] you.
καὶ αὐτῶν δεήσει ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐπιποθούντων ὑμᾶς διὰ τὴν ὑπερβάλλουσαν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐφ’ ὑμῖν kai autōn deēsei hyper hymōn epipothountōn hymas dia tēn hyperballousan charin tou Theou eph’ hymin — NA/TR · 14
15
Thanks [be] to God for His indescribable gift!
Χάρις τῷ Θεῷ ἐπὶ αὐτοῦ ἀνεκδιηγήτῳ τῇ δωρεᾷ Charis tō Theō epi autou anekdiēgētō tē dōrea — NA/TR · 15