2 Corinthians 8:12

Contextual Overview

⁷But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us —see that you also excel in this grace of giving. ⁷ But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. ⁷ But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. ⁷But just as you abound in everything, in faith and word and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. ⁷Y'all are top hands in many ways—faith, speaking, knowledge, being neighborly, and loving folks. Now I want you to become top hands in giving. ⁷ And that as you are full of every good thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way. ⁷ but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also. ⁷ Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us—excel also in this grace. ⁷ But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace. ⁷ Therefore as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: 2 Corinthians 9:7, Exodus 25:2, Exodus 35:5, Exodus 35:21, Exodus 35:22, Exodus 35:29, 1 Chronicles 29:3-18, 2 Chronicles 6:8, Proverbs 19:22, Mark 12:42-44, Mark 14:7, Mark 14:8, Luke 7:44-46, Luke 12:47, Luke 12:48, Luke 16:10, Luke 21:1-4, 1 Peter 4:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:12 - Lay Exodus 35:24 - whom Leviticus 1:3 - his own Leviticus 1:14 - of fowls Leviticus 5:7 - he be not able to bring a lamb Leviticus 7:30 - own hands Leviticus 14:21 - poor Leviticus 27:8 - poorer Deuteronomy 16:10 - according Deuteronomy 16:17 - as he is able Judges 5:2 - when Judges 5:9 - offered 1 Kings 8:18 - Whereas 1 Chronicles 28:9 - a willing mind 1 Chronicles 29:9 - they offered 2 Chronicles 17:16 - willingly 2 Chronicles 35:8 - willingly Ezra 2:68 - offered freely Ezra 7:16 - offering Nehemiah 5:8 - We after Nehemiah 7:71 - chief Nehemiah 10:32 - the third part Psalms 110:3 - Thy Malachi 1:14 - which hath in his flock Matthew 10:42 - a cup Matthew 25:17 - he also Matthew 25:22 - I have Mark 12:43 - That Luke 11:41 - rather Luke 19:18 - thy Luke 21:3 - more John 20:4 - outrun Acts 3:6 - but Acts 9:39 - and showing Acts 11:29 - every Romans 1:15 - so Romans 7:17 - it is no more Romans 12:6 - according to the proportion Romans 12:8 - giveth 1 Corinthians 9:17 - if I 1 Corinthians 16:2 - as God 2 Corinthians 8:3 - beyond Ephesians 4:28 - that he Ephesians 6:24 - in sincerity 1 Timothy 6:18 - ready Philemon 1:14 - thy benefit Hebrews 11:17 - offered

Cross-References

Genesis 8:2
Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky.

Genesis 8:2
Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky.

Genesis 8:2
Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained;

Genesis 8:2
Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained;

Genesis 8:2
The fountaynes also of the deepe, and the windowes of heauen were stopped, and the rayne from heauen was restrayned.

Genesis 8:2
Rain stopped falling from the sky, and water stopped flowing from under the earth.

Genesis 8:2
the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained,

Genesis 8:2
And watris weren decreessid, and the wellis of the see weren closid, and the wyndowis of heuene weren closid, and reynes of heuene weren ceessid.

Genesis 8:2
The fountaines also of the deepe, and the windowes of heauen were stopped, and the raine from heauen was restrained.

Genesis 8:2
The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For if there be first a willing mind,.... If what is done springs from a truly noble, generous spirit, a spirit of bountifulness and liberality; and is given cheerfully and freely, and according to a man's ability; the quantity matters not, whether it be more or less:

it is accepted; both of God and man:

according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. The widow's mite was as acceptable, and more so, than all the rich men cast into the treasury; a cup of cold water given to a prophet, in the name of a prophet, is taken notice of by God, and shall have its reward. The present sent by the Philippians to the Apostle Paul, and which perhaps was not very large, was "an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God", Philippians 4:18.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For if there be first a willing mind - If there is a “readiness” (προθυμία prothumia), a disposition to give; if the heart is in it, then the offering will be acceptable to God, whether you be able to give much or little. A willing mind is the first consideration. No donation, however large, can be acceptable where that does not exist; none, however small, can be otherwise than acceptable where that is found. This had relation as used by Paul to the duty of almsgiving; but the principle is as applicable to everything in the way of duty. A willing mind is the first and main thing. it is that which God chiefly desires, and that without which everything else will be offensive, hypocritical, and vain; see the note, 2 Corinthians 9:7.

It is accepted - Doddridge, Rosenmuller, Macknight, and some others apply this to the person, and render it,” he is accepted;” but the more usual, and the more natural interpretation is to apply it to the gift - it is accepted. God will approve of it, and will receive it favorably.

According to that a man hath ... - He is not required to give what he has not. His obligation is proportioned to his ability. His offering is acceptable to God according to the largeness and willingness of his heart, and not according to the narrowness of his fortune - Locke. If the means are small, if the individual is poor, and if the gift shall be, therefore, small in amount, yet it may be proof of a larger heart and of more true love to God and his cause than when a much more ample benefaction is made by one in better circumstances. This sentiment the Saviour expressly stated and defended in the case of the poor widow; Mark 12:42-44; Luke 21:1-4. She who had cast in her two mites into the treasury had put in more than all which the rich people had contributed, for they had given of their abundance, but she had cast in all that she had, even all her living. The great and obviously just and equal principle here stated, was originally applied by Paul to the duty of giving alms. But it is equally true and just as applied to all the duties which we owe to God. He demands:

(1) A willing mind, a heart disposed to yield obedience. He claims that our service should be voluntary and sincere, and that we should make an unreserved consecration of what we have.

(2) Secondly, he demands only what we have power to render. He requires a service strictly according to our ability, and to be measured by that. He demands no more than our powers are suited to produce; no more than we are able to render. Our obligations in all cases are limited by our ability. This is obviously the rule of equity, and this is all that is anywhere demanded in the Bible, and this is everywhere demanded. Thus, our love to him is to be in proportion to our ability, and not to be graduated by the ability of angels or other beings. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength;” Mark 12:30. Here the obligation is limited by the ability, and the love is to be commensurate with the ability. So of repentance, faith, and of obedience in any form. None but a tyrant ever demands more than can be rendered; and to demand more is the appropriate description of a tyrant, and cannot pertain to the ever-blessed God.

(3) Thirdly, if there is any service rendered to God, according to the ability, it is accepted of him. It may not be as much or as valuable as may be rendered by beings of higher powers; it may not be as much as we would desire to render, but it is all that God demands, and is acceptable to him. The poor widow was not able to give as much as the rich man; but her offering was equally acceptable, and might be more valuable, for it would be accompanied with her prayers. The service which we can render to God may not be equal to that which the angels render; but it may be equally appropriate to our condition and our powers, and may be equally acceptable to God. God may be as well pleased with the sighings of penitence as the praises of angels; with the offerings of a broken and a contrite heart as with the loud hallelujahs of unfallen beings in heaven.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 8:12. According to that a man hath — According to his real property; not taking that which belongs to his own family, and is indispensably necessary for their support; and not taking that which belongs to others; viz. what he owes to any man.