[continued from previous message]   
      
   repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might   
   receive damage by us in nothing.   
   [10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:   
   but the sorrow of the world worketh death.   
   [11] For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort,   
   what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea,   
   what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal,   
   yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in   
   this matter.   
   [12] Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had   
   done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for   
   you in the sight of God might appear unto you.   
   [13] Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the   
   more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you   
   all.   
   [14] For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as   
   we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made   
   before Titus, is found a truth.   
   [15] And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he   
   remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye   
   received him.   
   [16] I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.   
      
   2 Corinthians 8   
      
   Liberal Giving   
      
   1 (Ac 16:9) Moreover, brothers, we want you to experience the grace of God   
   bestowed on the churches of Macedonia,   
   2 how in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their   
   deep poverty overflowed toward the riches of their generous giving.   
   3 (1Co 16:2) For I bear record that according to their means,   
   and beyond their means, they freely gave,   
   4 (Ac 24:17; 1Co 16:3-4) begging us with much urgency that we would receive   
   the gift and the fellowship of ministering to the saints.   
   5 This they did, not as we expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord,   
   and then to us by the will of God.   
   6 (2Co 12:18; 8:4) So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also   
   complete this gracious deed for you.   
   7 (2Co 9:8; 1Co 1:5; Ro 15:14) But as you abound in everything-in faith, in   
   utterance, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love to   
   us-see that you abound in this grace also.   
   8 (1Co 7:6) I say this not as a command, but to prove through the authenticity   
   of others, the sincerity also of your love.   
   9 (Mt 20:28; 2Co 6:10; 13:14) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,   
   that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that through His   
   poverty you might be rich.   
   10 (1Co 7:25; 2Co 9:2) And in this matter I give my advice. It is appropriate   
   for you, who began last year not only to give, but also to willingly give.   
   11 Now therefore complete the task, so that, as there was a willingness to do   
   so, there may be a performance of it according to your means.   
   12 (2Co 9:7) For if there is a willing mind first, the gift is accepted   
   according to what a man possesses and not according to what he does not   
   possess.   
   13 I do not mean that other men have relief, and you be burdened,   
   14 (2Co 9:12; Ac 4:34_ but for equality, that your abundance now at this time   
   may supply their need, and their abundance may supply your need-that there   
   may be equality.   
   15 (Ex 16:18) As it is written, "He who gathered much had no excess. And he   
   who gathered little had no lack."(Ex 16:18.)   
   16 (Rev 17:17) But thanks be to God, who placed the same sincere care   
   in the heart of Titus for you.   
   17 (2Co 8:6) For indeed he accepted the exhortation. But being more zealous,   
   he went to you of his own accord.   
   18 (2Co 12:18; 1Co 7:17) And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is   
   in the gospel throughout all the churches.   
   19 (1Co 16:3-4; 2Co 4:15) And not only that, but he was also chosen   
   by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which we administer   
   to the glory of the same Lord, and to declare your willing mind,   
   20 to prevent any man from blaming us in administering this abundant gift,   
   21 (Ro 12:17; 14:18) providing for honest things, not only in the sight   
   of the Lord but also in the sight of men.   
   22 Furthermore, we have sent with them our brother whom we have frequently   
   proved diligent in many things, but now is much more diligent,   
   due to the great confidence which he has in you.   
   23 (Php 2:25; Phm 1:17; 2Co 8:6) If anyone inquires about Titus,   
   he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you.   
   Or if our brothers are inquired about, they are the messengers   
   of the churches, and the glory of Christ.   
   24 (2Co 7:14; 7:4) Therefore show to them, and before the churches,   
   the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.   
      
   [1] Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the   
   churches of Macedonia;   
   [2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and   
   their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.   
   [3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were   
   willing of themselves;   
   [4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take   
   upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.   
   [5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to   
   the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.   
   [6] Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also   
   finish in you the same grace also.   
   [7] Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and   
   knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound   
   in this grace also.   
   [8] I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of   
   others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.   
   [9] For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was   
   rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might   
   be rich.   
   [10] And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have   
   begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.   
   [11] Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to   
   will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.   
   [12] For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that   
   a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.   
   [13] For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:   
   [14] But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a   
   supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your   
   want: that there may be equality:   
   [15] As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he   
   that had gathered little had no lack.   
   [16] But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of   
   Titus for you.   
   [17] For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his   
   own accord he went unto you.   
   [18] And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel   
   throughout all the churches;   
   [19] And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel   
   with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the   
   same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:   
   [20] Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is   
   administered by us:   
   [21] Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but   
   also in the sight of men.   
   [22] And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved   
   diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great   
   confidence which I have in you.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)