8:1 Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, 1 the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 8:2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth 2 of their generosity. 8:3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, 3 8:4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping 4 the saints. 8:5 And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 8:6 Thus 5 we urged 6 Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, 7 so also he should complete this act of kindness 8 for you.
1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
2 tn Or “riches.”
3 tn Or “spontaneously.”
4 tn Or “of ministering to.”
5 tn A new sentence was started here in the translation and the word “thus” was supplied to indicate that it expresses the result of the previous clause.
6 tn Or “we exhorted.”
7 tn The words “this work” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted and must be supplied from the context.
8 tn Grk “this grace.”