9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, for your sake he became poor, in order that you, by his poverty, may become rich.
10. And I am giving an opinion in this matter, because this is profitable for you who not only began previously, a year ago, to do something, but also to want to do it.
11. So now also complete the doing of it, in order that just as you have the eagerness to want to do it, thus also you may complete it from what you have.
12. For if the eagerness is present according to what one has, it is acceptable not according to what one does not have.
13. For this is not that for others there may be relief, and for you difficult circumstances, but as a matter of equality.
14. At the present time your abundance will be for their need, in order that their abundance may also be for your need, so that there may be equality,
15. just as it is written, “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
16. But thanks be to God, who has put in the heart of Titus the same devotion on your behalf,
17. because he not only welcomed our request, but being very earnest, by his own choice he went out to you.
18. And we have sent at the same time with him the brother whose praise in the gospel has become known throughout all the churches.
19. And not only this, but he was also chosen by the churches as our traveling companion together with this gift that is being administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help.
20. We are trying to avoid this, lest anyone should find fault with us in this abundant gift that is being administered by us.
21. For we are taking into consideration what is honorable not only before the Lord, but also before people.
22. And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times in many things that he is diligent, but now much more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
23. If there is a question concerning Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. If there is a question concerning our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24. Therefore show to them the proof of your love and our boasting about you openly before the churches.