I know how much you want to do that. I’ve been bragging about you to the people in Macedonia. I’ve been telling them that you who live in Achaia have been ready to give since last year. Your eagerness has stirred up most of them to give as well.
You know that the first believers in Achaia were from the family of Stephanas. They’ve spent all their time serving the Lord’s people. Brothers and sisters, I’m asking you
After all this had happened, Paul decided to go over to Macedonia and Achaia and then on to Jerusalem. “And after I’ve been there,” he said, “I must also visit Rome.”
I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then I was going to come back from there and see you again. After that you could have sent me on my way to Judea.
Even so, I didn’t have any peace of mind, because I couldn’t find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to the believers at Troas and went on to Macedonia.
If people from Macedonia come with me and discover that you’re not ready, then we’ll be embarrassed for having been so confident about you. And you’ll be even more embarrassed!
When I was with you and needed something, I didn’t make you pay for it. The believers who came from Macedonia provided everything I needed. I haven’t made you pay for anything at all, and I won’t ever do that.
You believers at Philippi know what happened when I left Macedonia in the early days when you first heard the good news. Not one church helped me in the matter of giving and receiving except for you.
The Lord’s message rang out from you, and not just in Macedonia and Achaia. Your faith in God has become known everywhere, so we don’t have to say anything about it.
As I told you when I went into Macedonia, I want you to stay there in Ephesus. I need you to command certain people not to teach things that aren’t true and not to spend their time on made-up stories