1 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 unto 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.
1 nam de ministerio quod fit in sanctos
ex abundanti est mihi scribere vobis
2 scio enim promptum animum vestrum
pro quo de vobis glorior apud Macedonas
quoniam Achaia parata est ab anno praeterito
et vestra aemulatio provocavit plurimos
3 misi autem fratres
ut ne quod gloriamur de vobis evacuetur in hac parte
ut quemadmodum dixi parati sitis
4 ne cum venerint mecum Macedones
et invenerint vos inparatos
erubescamus nos ut non dicamus vos in hac substantia
5 necessarium ergo existimavi rogare fratres ut praeveniant ad vos
et praeparent repromissam benedictionem
hanc paratam esse
sic quasi benedictionem non quasi avaritiam
6 hoc autem qui parce
seminat parce et metet
et qui seminat in benedictionibus de benedictionibus et metet
7 unusquisque prout destinavit corde suo
non ex tristitia aut ex necessitate
hilarem enim datorem diligit Deus
8 potens est autem Deus omnem gratiam abundare facere in vobis
ut in omnibus semper omnem sufficientiam habentes
abundetis in omne opus bonum
9 sicut scriptum est dispersit dedit pauperibus
iustitia eius manet in aeternum
10 qui autem administrat semen seminanti
et panem ad manducandum praestabit
et multiplicabit semen vestrum
et augebit incrementa frugum iustitiae vestrae
11 ut in omnibus locupletati abundetis in omnem simplicitatem
quae operatur per nos gratiarum actionem Deo
12 quoniam ministerium huius officii
non solum supplet ea quae desunt sanctis
sed etiam abundat per multas gratiarum actiones in Domino
13 per probationem ministerii huius
glorificantes Deum in oboedientia confessionis vestrae
in evangelium Christi
et simplicitate communicationis in illos et in omnes
14 et ipsorum obsecratione pro vobis
desiderantium vos propter eminentem gratiam Dei in vobis
15 gratias Deo super inenarrabili dono eius