2 Corinthians 8:17

“Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, Yahweh!

and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Yahweh, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.

for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.

I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.

He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.

After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”

But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.

Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus,

But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

On the first day of every week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections are made when I come.

I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.

begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.

But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,

Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.

In all things be showing yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, be showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility,

Put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, with his grain money.” He did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

“Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.

‘Take from among you an offering to Yahweh. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as Yahweh’s offering: gold, silver, bronze,

They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought Yahweh’s offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments.

The children of Israel brought a free will offering to Yahweh; every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which Yahweh had commanded to be made by Moses.

You shall keep the feast of weeks to Yahweh your God with a tribute of a free will offering of your hand, which you shall give according to how Yahweh your God blesses you.

“Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh.

My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless Yahweh!

Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh and his people Israel.

“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.

Then Yahweh said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not turn toward this people. Cast them out of my sight, and let them go out!

Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon,

They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.

The chieftains of Judah will say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Yahweh of Armies their God.’

Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward.”

nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”

Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.

But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God,

Therefore let’s keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain,

in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.

I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.

Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.

but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ,

Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ,

But you know the proof of him, that as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.

As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,

Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.

preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching.

Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.

Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.

Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,

But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation; for I have written to you in few words.

and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,

As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything.

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.