FOR
as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to
you:
2 For I
know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of
Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very
many.
3 Yet have
I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf;
that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4 Lest
haply if they of Macedonia
come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be
ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5 Therefore
I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that
they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye
had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty,
and not as of covetousness.
6 But this
I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall
reap also bountifully.
7 Every
man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let
him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth
a cheerful giver.
8 And God is
able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it
is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his
righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he
that ministereth seed to the sower
both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and
increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11 Being
enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth
through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For
the administration of this service not only supplieth
the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 Whiles
by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed
subjection into the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution
unto them, and unto all men;
14 And by
their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in
you.
15 Thanks
be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
