Generosity Commended (Philippians 4:10–20)
1 WBS Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; BSB BSB: Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.
2 WBS That in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality. BSB BSB: In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
3 WBS For to their power, I bear testimony, and even beyond their power, they were willing of themselves; BSB BSB: For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,
4 WBS Praying us with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. BSB BSB: they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
5 WBS And this they did , not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God: BSB BSB: And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God.
6 WBS So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. BSB BSB: So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.
7 WBS 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. BSB BSB: But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8 WBS I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. BSB BSB: I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love through the earnestness of others.
9 WBS 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. BSB BSB: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
10 WBS And in this 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. BSB BSB: And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.
11 WBS Now therefore finish 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. BSB BSB: Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.
12 WBS For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not. BSB BSB: For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
13 WBS For I mean not that other men should be eased, and you burdened: BSB BSB: It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.
14 WBS 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: BSB BSB: At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality.
15 WBS As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no want. BSB BSB: As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”
Titus Commended (Titus 1:1–4)
16 WBS But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. BSB BSB: But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.
17 WBS For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went to you. BSB BSB: For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.
18 WBS And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; BSB BSB: Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel.
19 WBS And not that only, but who was also chosen by 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: BSB BSB: More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
20 WBS Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: BSB BSB: We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.
21 WBS Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. BSB BSB: For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
22 WBS And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. BSB BSB: And we are sending along with them our brother who has proven his earnestness to us many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.
23 WBS If any inquire concerning Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of , they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. BSB BSB: As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 WBS Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. BSB BSB: In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.