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¹ I must acquaint you, brethren, with the contribution which the churches of Macedonia have religiously made, ² who tho' labouring under great trial of affliction, and extreme poverty, have notwithstanding with exceeding cheerfulness contributed very liberally: being forward of themselves to the utmost of their power, ³ (I bear them witness) yea, and beyond their power: ⁴ earnestly intreating me to take the gift, and the charge of conveying it to the converts at Jerusalem: ⁵ and in this they out-did my expectation; such was the divine pleasure, they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then made me an offer to go themselves to Corinth. ⁶ I therefore desired Titus, as he had begun, to finish this contribution among you.

⁷ that as you excel in every thing, in faith, in language, mystical knowledge, in all virtue, and in your affection to us; I hope you will excel too in this charitable disposition. ⁸ I don't mean to prescribe to you, but that the zeal of others may show you are as sincerely well-affected. ⁹ for you are sensible of the beneficence of our Lord Jesus Christ; powerful as he was, for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might be made rich. ¹⁰ in this I only advise you: it being for your credit, since you have not only begun to execute it, but you were the first that form'd the design a year ago. ¹¹ Pray then, dispatch this affair; as you readily undertook it, as readily perform it, to the best of your abilities. ¹² for what a man gives with a ready mind, according to his abilities, is well received; but not when he goes beyond his circumstances. ¹³ my meaning is not, that you should be distress'd to relieve others, I only recommend an equality; ¹⁴ that as your present sufficiency supplies their wants, their sufficiency may supply your occasions another way: and thus there will be an equality. ¹⁵ as it is written, " he that had much, had nothing over, and he that had little, had no lack."

¹⁶ But thanks be to God, who disposed Titus to be so industrious for you. ¹⁷ for he not only complyed with my exhortation, but being more than ordinarily concern'd, he voluntarily went to you; ¹⁸ with whom I have sent one of the brethren, who is not only distinguish'd among all the churches, by his preaching the gospel, ¹⁹ but was chosen by the churches to accompany me with this collection; which service I undertook for the sake of Christ, and to encourage your generous design. ²⁰ this I did, to prevent any suspicion that might be rais'd from my having the management of so great a sum: ²¹ always considering what is virtuous, with respect to God, and with respect to men. ²² I have sent likewise another of our brethren, whose diligence I have experienc'd in several affairs. ²³ now as to Titus, he is my collegue, and assists me in your affairs: as to our brethren, they are the deputies of the churches, and the glory of the christian profession. ²⁴ wherefore show how much you love them, and how well you deserve the character I gave you, before all the churches.