Seconda lettera ai Corinzi - 2 Corinthians 8

GREEK BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Γνωστοποιουμεν δε εις εσας, αδελφοι, την χαριν του Θεου την δεδομενην εις τας εκκλησιας της Μακεδονιας,	1 We want you to know, brothers, of the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,
2 οτι η περισσεια της χαρας αυτων, ενω εδοκιμαζον μεγαλην θλιψιν, και η βαθεια πτωχεια αυτων ανεδειξαν εκ περισσου τον πλουτον της ελευθεροτητος αυτων?	2 for in a severe test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 διοτι υπηρξαν κατα δυναμιν, μαρτυρω τουτο, και υπερ δυναμιν αυτοπροαιρετοι,	3 For according to their means, I can testify, and beyond their means, spontaneously,
4 παρακαλουντες ημας μετα πολλης παρακλησεως να δεχθωμεν την χαριν και την κοινωνιαν της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους,	4 they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones,
5 και ουχι μονον καθως ηλπισαμεν, αλλ' εαυτους εδωκαν πρωτον εις τον Κυριον και εις ημας δια θεληματος του Θεου,	5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God,
6 ωστε παρεκαλεσαμεν τον Τιτον, καθως ηρχισεν, ουτω και να τελειωση προς εσας και την χαριν ταυτην.	6 so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun, he should also complete for you this gracious act also.
7 Καθως λοιπον περισσευετε εν παντι, εν πιστει και λογω και γνωσει και παση σπουδη και της προς ημας αγαπης σας, ουτω σπουδασατε να περισσευσητε και εν ταυτη τη χαριτι.	7 Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also.
8 Δεν λεγω τουτο κατ' επιταγην, αλλα δια να δοκιμασω δια της σπουδης των αλλων και την γνησιοτητα της αγαπης σας?	8 I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others.
9 διοτι εξευρετε την χαριν του Κυριου ημων Ιησου Χριστου, οτι πλουσιος ων επτωχευσε δια σας, δια να πλουτησητε σεις με την πτωχειαν εκεινου.	9 For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
10 Και εις τουτο γνωμην διδω? διοτι τουτο συμφερει εις εσας, οιτινες ηρχισατε απο περυσιν ουχι μονον το να καμητε, αλλα και το να θελητε?	10 And I am giving counsel in this matter, for it is appropriate for you who began not only to act but to act willingly last year:
11 τωρα δε τελειωσατε και το να καμητε, ωστε καθως υπηρξεν η προθυμια του θελειν, ουτω να υπαρχη και το τελειωσαι αφ' οσα εχετε.	11 complete it now, so that your eager willingness may be matched by your completion of it out of what you have.
12 Διοτι εαν προυπαρχη η προθυμια, ειναι τις ευπροσδεκτος καθ' οσα εχει, ουχι καθ' οσα δεν εχει.	12 For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have;
13 Επειδη δεν θελω να ηναι εις αλλους ανεσις, εις εσας δε στενοχωρια	13 not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality
14 αλλα να γεινη εν ισοτητι, ωστε εν τω παροντι καιρω το περισσευμα σας να αναπληρωση την στερησιν εκεινων, δια να χρησιμευση και το περισσευμα εκεινων εις την στερησιν σας, ωστε να γεινη ισοτης,	14 your surplus at the present time should supply their needs, so that their surplus may also supply your needs, that there may be equality.
15 καθως ειναι γεγραμμενον? Οστις ειχε συναξει πολυ δεν ελαμβανε πλειοτερον, και οστις ολιγον δεν ελαμβανεν ολιγωτερον.	15 As it is written: "Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less."
16 Χαρις δε εις τον Θεον τον διδοντα εις την καρδιαν του Τιτου την αυτην σπουδην δια σας,	16 But thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus,
17 διοτι την μεν προτροπην εδεχθη, προθυμοτερος δε ων ανεχωρησε προς εσας αυτοπροαιρετος.	17 for he not only welcomed our appeal but, since he is very concerned, he has gone to you of his own accord.
18 Επεμψαμεν δε μετ' αυτου τον αδελφον, του οποιου ο εν τω ευαγγελιω επαινος γινεται κατα πασας τας εκκλησιας?	18 With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
19 και ουχι μονον τουτο, αλλα και εψηφισθη υπο των εκκλησιων συνοδοιπορος ημων μετα της δωρεας ταυτης της διακονουμενης υφ' ημων προς την δοξαν αυτου του Κυριου και προς ενδειξιν της προθυμιας σας?	19 And not only that, but he has also been appointed our traveling companion by the churches in this gracious work administered by us for the glory of the Lord (himself) and for the expression of our eagerness.
20 φοβουμενοι τουτο, μη προσαψη τις εις ημας μωμον εν τη αφθονια ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ' ημων,	20 This we desire to avoid, that anyone blame us about this lavish gift administered by us,
21 προνοουντες τα καλα ουχι μονον ενωπιον του Κυριου, αλλα και ενωπιον των ανθρωπων.	21 for we are concerned for what is honorable not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of others.
22 Επεμψαμεν δε μετ' αυτων τον αδελφον ημων, τον οποιον πολλακις εδοκιμασαμεν εν πολλοις οτι ειναι προθυμος, τωρα δε πολυ προθυμοτερος δια την πολλην πεποιθησιν την προς εσας.	22 And with them we have sent our brother whom we often tested in many ways and found earnest, but who is now much more earnest because of his great confidence in you.
23 Οσον μεν περι Τιτου, ειναι κοινωνος εμου και εις εσας συνεργος? οσον δε περι των αδελφων ημων, ειναι αποστολοι των εκκλησιων, δοξα Χριστου.	23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker for you; as for our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 Την ενδειξιν λοιπον της αγαπης σας και της καυχησεως ημων την οποιαν εχομεν δια σας, δειξατε προς αυτους και ενωπιον των εκκλησιων.	24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to them.