1: For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is
superfluous for me to write to you: |
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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. |
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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: |
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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. |
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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. |
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6: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also
sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
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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.
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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: |
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9: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to
the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. |
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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;) |
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11: Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which
causeth through us thanksgiving to God. |
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12: For the administration of this service not only supplieth the
want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
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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; |
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14: And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the
exceeding grace of God in you. |
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15: Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. |