7. But, just as in all things you abound in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all solicitude, and even more so in your charity toward us, so also may you abound in this grace.
8. I am speaking, not commanding. But through the solicitude of others, I approve of the good character of your charity.
9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that through his poverty, you might become rich.
10. And about this, I give my counsel. For this is useful to those of you who, only a year earlier, had just begun to act, or even to be willing to act.
11. So, truly now, accomplish this in deed, so that, in the same manner as your willing mind is prompted, you may also act, out of that which you have.
12. For when the will is prompted, it receives according to what that person has, not according to what that person does not have.
13. And it is not that others should be relieved, while you are troubled, but that there should be an equality.
14. In this present time, let your abundance supply their need, so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be an equality, just as it was written:
15. "He with more did not have too much; and he with less did not have too little."
16. But thanks be to God, who has granted to the heart of Titus, this same solicitude for you.
17. For certainly, he accepted the exhortation. But since he was more solicitous, he went to you of his own free will.
18. And we have even sent with him a brother whose praise accompanies the Gospel throughout all the churches.
19. And not only that, but he was also chosen by the churches to be a companion for our sojourn in this grace, which is ministered by us with our determined will, to the glory of the Lord.
20. So let us avoid this, lest anyone disparage us over the abundance that is ministered by us.