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Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

And not that only, but who was also chosen of 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:

And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

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:

For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Now therefore perform 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.

And herein 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.

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.

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

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.

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol"s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your"s become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.