2 Corinthians 8:8

Contextual Overview

⁷ You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking ability, in knowledge, in the willingness to help, and in the love you learned from us. So now we want you to be rich in this work of giving too. ⁷ Now as you excel in everything--in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us--see that you excel in this gracious work also. ⁷ Now therfore as ye are ryche in all parties in fayth in worde in knowledge in all fervetnes and in love which ye have to vs: even so se that ye be plenteons in this benivolence. 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 But just as you excel in everything, in faith, speaking, knowledge, and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you also excel in this gracious work. ⁷ You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us. In the same way, be strong also in the grace of giving. ⁷ But as you abound in everything, [in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all earnestness, and [in] our love to you, [see] that you abound in this grace also. ⁷ Therefore, as ye abound in every [thing], [in] faith and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all diligence, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also. ⁷ But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

speak: 2 Corinthians 8:10, 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Corinthians 7:6, 1 Corinthians 7:12, 1 Corinthians 7:25

by occasion: 2 Corinthians 8:1-3, 2 Corinthians 9:2, Romans 11:12-14, Hebrews 10:24

prove: 2 Corinthians 8:24, 2 Corinthians 6:6, Joshua 24:14, Ezekiel 33:31, Romans 12:9, Ephesians 4:15, *marg. Ephesians 6:24, James 2:14-16, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 3:17-19

Reciprocal: Genesis 44:2 - General Deuteronomy 13:3 - ye love the Lord your God Deuteronomy 24:22 - General Psalms 112:4 - he is gracious Proverbs 3:9 - General Matthew 25:22 - I have Luke 19:8 - Behold John 11:36 - Behold John 14:15 - General John 14:24 - that John 21:17 - Feed 1 Corinthians 5:8 - but 1 Corinthians 16:22 - love 2 Corinthians 1:12 - godly 2 Corinthians 5:14 - the love 2 Corinthians 8:17 - but Philippians 1:10 - that ye may be Philippians 2:22 - ye 1 Thessalonians 4:10 - all the Titus 2:7 - sincerity James 2:16 - one 1 John 4:11 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 8:10
He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.

Genesis 8:10
And he stayed yet another seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;

Genesis 8:10
After seven days Noah again sent out the dove from the boat,

Genesis 8:10
He waited seven more days and then sent out the dove again from the ark.

Genesis 8:10
And he stayed yet other seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;

Genesis 8:10
He stayed yet another seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.

Genesis 8:10
He waited another seven days and again sent the dove out from the ark.

Genesis 8:10
Sotheli whanne othere seuene daies weren abedun aftirward, eft he leet out a culuer fro the schip;

Genesis 8:10
And he stayeth yet other seven days, and addeth to send forth the dove from the ark;

Genesis 8:10
Noah waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I speak not by commandment,.... Either of God, who has not fixed the certain times when, or certain sums which persons are to give, and other circumstances, which are left to discretion; but in general has signified it as his will, that those in necessity are to be relieved by such who are in ability to do it: or as an apostle, he did not speak in an imperious manner, extorting from them a collection, or laying his apostolical injunctions upon them to make one; he did not go about to force or oblige them to it, for men in such cases must act willingly, and what they do, must do of their own accord with cheerfulness, and not through constraint or grudgingly:

but by occasion of the forwardness of others; or "through carefulness for others"; what moved the apostle to propose this matter to the Corinthians, and exhort them to it, were either the forwardness of the Macedonians, cheerfully contributing in the midst of their poverty, and their urgent solicitations that the same good work might go on elsewhere, or else the very great care and concern that he himself had for the poor saints at Jerusalem: it was not therefore to show his apostolical authority, that he sent Titus to them to finish this service; but he was stirred up hereunto, partly by the bounty and solicitations of others, and partly by bowels of compassion within himself, and concern in his own mind for the poor saints; and also, as he adds,

to prove the sincerity of your love; to God, to Christ, to his ministers, and to the saints, particularly the poor; that their love might appear to be true, genuine, hearty, and real to others, to all men as well as to them the apostles.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I speak not by commandment - This does not mean that he had no express command of God in the case, but that he did not mean to command them; he did not speak authoritatively; he did not intend to prescribe what they should give. He used only moral motives, and urged the considerations which he had done to persuade rather than to command them to give; see 2 Corinthians 8:10. He was endeavoring to induce them to give liberally, not by abstract command and law, but by showing them what others had given who had much less ability and much fewer advantages than they had. People cannot be induced to give to objects of charity by command, or by a spirit of dictation and authority. The only successful, as well as the only lawful appeal, is to their hearts and consciences, and sober judgments. And if an apostle did not take upon himself the language of authority and command in matters of Christian benevolence, assuredly ministers and ecclesiastical bodies now have no right to use any such language.

But by occasion of the forwardness of others - I make use of the example of the churches of Macedonia as an argument to induce you to give liberally to the cause.

And to prove the sincerity of your love - The apostle does not specify here what “love” he refers to, whether love to God, to Christ, to himself, or to the church at large. It may be that he designedly used the word in a general sense, to denote love to any good object; and that he meant to say that liberality in assisting the poor and afflicted people of God would be the best evidence of the sincerity of their love to God, to the Redeemer, to him, and to the church. Religion is love; and that love is to be manifested by doing good to all people as we have opportunity. The most substantial evidence of that love is when we are willing to part with. our property, or with whatever is valuable to us, to confer happiness and salvation on others.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 8:8. I speak not by commandment — I do not positively order this; I assume no right or authority over your property; what you devote of your substance to charitable purposes must be your own work, and a free-will offering.

The forwardness of others — Viz. the Churches of Macedonia, which had already exerted themselves so very much in this good work. And the apostle here intimates that he takes this opportunity to apprise them of the zeal of the Macedonians, lest those at Corinth, who excelled in every other gift, should be outdone in this. Their own honour, if better motives were absent, would induce them to exert themselves, that they might not be outdone by others. And then, as they had professed great love for the apostle, and this was a service that lay near his heart, they would prove the sincerity of that professed love by a liberal contribution for the afflicted and destitute Jewish Christians.