From a letter written by the apostle Paul,
with Timothy,
to believers in Corinth and the surrounding areas:
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. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 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. 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. 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. 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.-2 Corinthians 8:7-12
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 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: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.-2 Corinthians 8:13-15
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 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: Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.-2 Corinthians 8:16-21
And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.-2 Corinthians 8:22-24
Background Information:
Jacob (Israel) was the youngest fraternal twin son born to Isaac and Rebekah. Joseph was the 1st son born to Jacob and his 2nd wife Rachel. When Jacob was 130 years old, he moved with his family from Canaan to Egypt, the country wherein Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian official, and was imprisoned, and was proclaimed second-in-command. After 147-year old Jacob died in Egypt, his body was buried in Canaan, the Promised Land, the land that the Lord God promised to give to Jacob, and Isaac, and to Isaac's father Abraham (Abram the Hebrew), and their descendants. Sometime after Joseph and his siblings were dead, their descendants the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. Aaron and his brother Moses were from the tribe of Levi, descended from Jacob and his 1st wife Leah, and Jacob and Leah's 3rd born son Levi. When Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83, they led the Israelites away from Egypt, across the divinely parted Red Sea, and into the desert wilderness of Shur, according to the commands of the Lord God. When the Israelites, and those with them, were in the desert wilderness of Sin, the Israelites grumbled and began reminiscing about the variety of food they ate in Egypt. The Lord God told Moses that he was going to rain bread from heaven, and specified the amount of bread, manna, that the Israelites were to collect. The divinely inspired Scriptures of the Holy Bible reveal that those who gathered much manna had no manna leftover and those who gathered a smaller amount of manna had no lack of manna. During the 40th year of their journey to the Promised Land, 123-year-old Aaron died and was buried upon Mount Hor, and Moses went upon Mount Nebo. The Lord God showed Moses the Promised Land, and 120-year-old Moses died and was divinely buried. Over 1,400 years after Joshua, Moses' successor, led the Israelites across the divinely parted Jordan River and onto the Promised Land, and the Lord God stopped raining manna from heaven, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, was born. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, a virgin, and Jesus was born into the tribe of Jacob and Leah's 4th born son Judah to Mary and her husband Joseph when Mary was a virgin. Approximately 30 years after Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by Mary's relative John the Baptist, from the tribe of Levi. Jesus having prayed, the heavens tearing open, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove and lit upon Jesus. The Lord God in heaven audibly acknowledged his Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert wilderness. Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights and was tempted. Afterwards, Jesus was tended to by angels, and Jesus went to the area near John the Baptist, and John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus to be the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world. In Galilee, Jesus told specific Israelite men to follow him, and Jesus began to preach, teach and perform miracles among the Israelites, the treasured and chosen people of the Lord God. While in Galilee, Jesus told a group of listeners that he is the bread of life, the living bread having come down from heaven. Less than 3 1/2 years after Jesus was baptized, Jesus was betrayed, arrested, crucified, buried in a tomb, resurrected, and returned to heaven. Paul (Saul) was an Israelite from the tribe of Jacob and Rachel's 2nd and last son Benjamin. Paul did not believe Jesus to be the Christ. Throughout Jerusalem, Paul persecuted and imprisoned any Israelite man or woman who believed Jesus to be the Christ of God. When Paul was journeying to the synagogues in Damascus, Syria, to find, bind and take to Jerusalem any Israelite believers he found, Paul and those with him saw a light from heaven flash around them. Paul heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him, and Paul spoke to Jesus and obeyed Jesus. In Damascus Paul was baptized. From thenceforward, Paul the apostle journeyed and wrote divinely inspired letters, teaching Israelites and Gentiles, people not born into the Israelite tribes, the good news of Jesus the Christ and everlasting life. Timothy (Timotheus) was born to a Gentile father and a mother, Eunice, who was an Israelite and a believer. After Paul met Timothy, Paul circumcised Timothy, and Paul and Timothy journeyed together, separately and with others. Titus was a Gentile. Paul did not circumcise Titus before they journeyed together, separately and with others. After Titus was encouraged to finish collecting a monetary offering from the believers in Corinth, Titus was sent to Corinth with 2 other believers.-Genesis 11:26-50:26, Exodus, Numbers 20:1-29, 27:12-23, Deuteronomy 31:1-30, 32:44-52, 34:1-12, Joshua 1:1-5:15, 1 Chronicles 1:1-34, 2:1-17, 3:1-24, 6:1-81, 7:20-29, 8:1-40, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1:1-26, 6:1-8:4, 9:1-31, 11:19-28:31, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
Reference Information:
exhortation = paraklesin/paraklesis/parakaleo = appeal, a call
forward = spoudaioteros/spoudaios/spoude = earnest, eagerly diligent, willing
forwardness = spoudes/spoude/speudo = earnestness, quick diligence
grace = chariti/charis/chairo = charity, gift, kindness
Reference Scriptures:
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.-Exodus 16:15...And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.-Exodus 16:18
And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.-Acts 11:27-30
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.-1 Corinthians 16:1.. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.-1 Corinthians 16:3
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