King James Version · Under Rome
2 Corinthians 8
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Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the of bestowed on the churches of ; How that in a great of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their , I bear record, yea, and beyond their they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to . And this they did, not as we , but first gave their own selves to , and unto us by the will of . Insomuch that we , that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same also. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in , and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this also. I speak not by , but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the of our , that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became , that ye through his might be rich. And herein I give my : 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 , it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 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 , He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. But thanks be to , which put the same earnest care into of 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 is in throughout all the churches; And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this , which is administered by us to the of the same , and declaration of your ready : 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 , but also in the sight of men. 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 , he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the of the churches, and the of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
The 1611 translation, public domain. Its original printing included the Apocrypha, which is why the deuterocanonical books can be read here. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.