(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Macedonia Generosity
- And we declare to you brothers, the grace of God which has been given among the churches of Macedonia.
- That in much testing through affliction, the abundance of their joy and the depth of their poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.
- For I testify that according to their ability – even beyond their ability – they gave voluntarily,
- imploring us with much supplication to let them join in the grace and the partnership in the ministry of the saints.
- And not only as we hoped, but they gave of themselves, first to the Lord and then to us through God’s will.
- For we encouraged Titus so that just as he began before you, so also he might complete this grace in you too.
- But just as you overflow in everything (in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all eager diligence, and the ^love from us to you) so you should overflow in this grace also.
- I don’t speak as a command, but because of the eager diligence of others and to prove your ^love is genuine.
- For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed . That while being rich, He became poor for your sakes, so through His poverty you might become rich.
- And I give an opinion on this matter; for this is beneficial for you, who since last year had already begun not only to work, but also to desire to work.
- Now then, also complete the work so just as you had the eagerness to desire, so also you’ll have the eagerness to complete it from what you have.
- For if the eagerness is present, it’s acceptable according to what a man has; not according to what he doesn’t have.
- For this isn’t so that others have ease and you have affliction, but so there’s equality.
- At the present season, your overflow would go to those in need, so also their overflow might go into your need, so there might be equality.
- Just as it is *written, “The man who gathered much didn’t have abundance; the man who gathered little didn’t lack.“1quotation/allusion to Exodus 16:18
Praising Titus
- But grace be to God, the One putting the same eagerness for you in the heart of Titus.
- For he indeed welcomed our appeal; and being more eager, he went out to you of his own accord.
- And we sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches.
- And not only that, but he was also elected2“he was… …elected” is one word in Greek. It literally means “to vote by stretching out the hand”, or to “elect by a show of hands”, sometimes with the idea of appointing someone to an office or position. by the churches as our fellow traveler in this act of grace, which is administered by us for our readiness and the glory of the Lord Himself.
- We’re taking care of this gift, lest someone discredit us through this abundant gift which is administered by us.
- For we take care to be noble; not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
- And we sent with them our brother, whom we proved to be eagerly diligent many times, in many things, and now he’s much more eagerly diligent because of his great trust in you.
- Whether concerning Titus – who’s my partner and a fellow worker to you – or our brothers who are messengers of the churches, they’re a glory to the Anointed
- Therefore, show them proof of your ^love and the reason for our boast about you in front of the churches.
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