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Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of Elohim given among the assemblies of Macedonia,
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that in a great testing of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.
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For according to their ability— I testify— and beyond their ability, of their own accord,
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begging us with much urging for the grace and fellowship of service toward the set-apart ones.
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And not merely as we hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Master and then to us through the will of Elohim.
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So we urged Titos, that just as he had begun before, so he might also complete among you this grace.
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But just as you abound in everything— in trust, and speech, and knowledge, and all earnestness, and in the love from us that is in you— see that you also abound in this grace.
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I do not speak according to command, but through the earnestness of others, testing also the genuineness of your love.
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For you know the grace of our Master Yahushua the Anointed, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich.
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And in this I give judgment, for this is beneficial for you, who began before not only to do, but also to desire to do it, since last year.
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But now also complete the doing, so that just as there was readiness to desire, so also there may be completion from what you have.
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For if readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
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For it is not so that others may have ease and you affliction, but from equality.
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At the present time your abundance serves their lack, so that their abundance may also serve your lack, so that there may be equality,
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just as it is written: “The one who gathered much had nothing left over, and the one who gathered little did not lack.”
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But thanks be to Elohim, who put the same earnestness for you into the heart of Titos.
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For indeed he received the urging, but being more earnest, of his own accord he went out toward you.
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And we sent with him the brother whose praise in the Besorah is throughout all the assemblies.
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And not only this, but he was also chosen by the assemblies as our traveling companion with this grace being served by us for the glory of the Master and our readiness,
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avoiding this: that anyone might blame us concerning this abundance being administered by us.
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For we take thought for what is honorable, not only before Yahuah, but also before Adam.
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And we sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but now much more earnest because of great confidence toward you.
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As for Titos, he is my partner and fellow worker toward you. As for our brothers, they are emissaries of the assemblies, a glory of the Anointed.
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Therefore show toward them, before the face of the assemblies, the proof of your love and of our boasting concerning you.