1-2. Out of the midst of all their persecutions and afflictions the heart of the churches of Macedonia has been preserved so fresh and fearless that the surplus of their joy and gladness has taken the form of a bountiful gift to God.
3. Their utter poverty too in respect of worldly needs and aspirations has contributed to this gift.
4. They have but one single aim, and that has flowed liberally and richly into this contribution which is for the central church at Jerusalem.
5. They have willingly and of their own accord brought what they could spare, and more than that, into this fund, not prompted thereto by any begging on my part, but because they were dedicated in heart and mind to serve God, and to love Him of their own free will, gladly they gave this present, this means of communication and fellowship with the saints in another land.
6. Titus administered this fund and its collection, and he was so much impressed and encouraged by the Macedonians in the carrying out of this task, that I bade him continue this work which he had begun in Greece, and complete it by also attending to the fund which you are making;
7. and I feel certain that the great increase which you have enjoyed, the blessings of true faith, new knowledge, and the understanding of the word, that all these will be accompanied too by the fullness and abundance of your giving.
8. I enjoin no commandments upon you, but I promote in you a like enthusiasm to that which your brethren have shown.
9. Your wealth, you well know, all that you really have, that is to say, is yours because Christ Jesus abandoned the world;
10. the way he gave up all has brought you great riches, and now is the time to show how genuine is the love which has been opened to you.
11-12. My opinion is that the time has now arrived for this fund and collection to be completed, and for your final gifts to be made.
13-14. I know that you have already given sums to it, and your good will and desire to give has long been shown. Complete the matter now, and since you have this desire, give now what you can afford. Our giving is not the kind that injures and depletes oneself in order to confer largess on another; but it illustrates a law of fairness.
15. “He that gathered little had no lack, and he that gathered much had nothing over” (Ex. xvi. 18).