8 ¹⁶ I thank God that he has made Titus as keen on your behalf as we are! 8 ¹⁷ For Titus not only welcomed our request; he is so eager that by his own desire he is now leaving to come to you. 8 ¹⁸ With him we are sending one of our company whose reputation is high among our congregations everywhere for his services to the Gospel. 8 ¹⁹ Moreover they have duly appointed him to travel with us and help in this beneficent work, by which we do honour to the Lord himself and show our own eagerness to serve. 8 ²⁰ We want to guard against any criticism of our handling of this generous gift; 8 ^{21 [ Pr.3.4. ]} for our aims are entirely honourable, not only in the Lord's eyes, but also in the eyes of men.
8 ²² With these men we are sending another of our company whose enthusiasm we have had many opportunities of testing, and who is now all the more earnest because of the great confidence he has in you. 8 ²³ If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and my associate in dealings with you; as for the others, they are delegates of our congregations, an honour to Christ. Or: they are ... congregations; they reflect Christ. 8 ²⁴ Then give them clear expression of your love and justify our pride in you; justify it to them, and through them to the congregations.