2 Corinthians 8:12

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

Legacy Standard Bible
For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

Simplified Cowboy Version
The amount doesn't matter as much as the willingness to, but be sure you are giving in proportion to what you have. The trick is to concentrate on how much you have to give, not how much you'll have left after you do.

Bible in Basic English
For if there is a ready mind, a man will have God's approval in the measure of what he has, and not of what he has not.

Darby Translation
For if the readiness be there, [a man is] accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not.

Christian Standard Bible®
For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

World English Bible
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don't have.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if there be first a ready mind, a man is accepted, according to what he hath, not according to what he hath not.

Weymouth's New Testament
For, assuming the earnest willingness, the gift is acceptable according to whatever a man has, and not according to what he has not.

King James Version (1611)
For if there bee first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Literal Translation
For if the eagerness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For yf there be a wyllinge mynde, it is accepted acordinge to that a man hath, not acordinge to that he hath not.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for what a man gives with a ready mind, according to his abilities, is well received; but not when he goes beyond his circumstances.

Amplified Bible
For if the eagerness [to give] is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

American Standard Version
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.

Revised Standard Version
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he has not.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For if ther be fyrst a willynge mynde it is accepted accordynge to that a man hath and not accordinge to that he hath not.

Update Bible Version
For if the readiness is there, [it is] acceptable according to as [a man] has, not according to as [he] has not.

Webster's Bible Translation
For if there is first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to what a man hath, [and] not according to what he hath not.

Young's Literal Translation
for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;

New Century Version
If you want to give, your gift will be accepted. It will be judged by what you have, not by what you do not have.

New English Translation
For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.

Berean Standard Bible
For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

Contemporary English Version
It doesn't matter how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have.

Complete Jewish Bible
For if the eagerness to give is there, the acceptability of the gift will be measured by what you have, not by what you don't have.

English Standard Version
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For if there be first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

George Lamsa Translation
For if there is a willingness to give, every man can give according to that which he has, and not according to that which he has not, and his gift will be acceptable.

Hebrew Names Version
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don't have.

International Standard Version
For if the eagerness is there, the giftit">[fn] is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.Mark 12:43-44; Luke 21:3;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For if there be the will, according to what one hath, so is (he) accepted, and not according to what he hath not.

Murdock Translation
For if there is a willingness, a person is accepted according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not.

New King James Version
For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

New Living Translation
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have.

New Life Bible
If a man is ready and willing to give, he should give of what he has, not of what he does not have.

English Revised Version
For if the readiness is there, [it is] acceptable according as [a man] hath, not according as [he] hath not.

New Revised Standard
For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, if the forwardness is set forth, according to what one may have, he is well approved, not according to what one hath not.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For if the will be forward, it is accepted according to that which a man hath: not according to that which he hath not.

King James Version
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Lexham English Bible
For if the eagerness is present according to what one has, it is acceptable not according to what one does not have.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For if there be first a wyllyng mynde, it is accepted accordyng to that a man hath, and not accordyng to that he hath not.

Easy-to-Read Version
If you want to give, your gift will be accepted. Your gift will be judged by what you have, not by what you don't have.

New American Standard Bible
For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

Good News Translation
If you are eager to give, God will accept your gift on the basis of what you have to give, not on what you don't have.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For if the wille be redi, it is acceptid aftir that that it hath, not aftir that that it hath not.

Contextual Overview

⁸I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich. ¹⁰So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least. I thank God for giving Titus the same devoted concern for you that I have. He was most considerate of how we felt, but his eagerness to go to you and help out with this relief offering is his own idea. We're sending a companion along with him, someone very popular in the churches for his preaching of the Message. But there's far more to him than popularity. He's rock-solid trustworthy. The churches handpicked him to go with us as we travel about doing this work of sharing God's gifts to honor God as well as we can, taking every precaution against scandal. We don't want anyone suspecting us of taking one penny of this money for ourselves. We're being as careful in our reputation with the public as in our reputation with God. That's why we're sending another trusted friend along. He's proved his dependability many times over, and carries on as energetically as the day he started. He's heard much about you, and liked what he's heard—so much so that he can't wait to get there. I don't need to say anything further about Titus. We've been close associates in this work of serving you for a long time. The brothers who travel with him are delegates from churches, a real credit to Christ. Show them what you're made of, the love I've been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves!

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 8:7
He sent out a raven; it flew back and forth waiting for the floodwaters to dry up. Then he sent a dove to check on the flood conditions, but it couldn't even find a place to perch—water still covered the Earth. Noah reached out and caught it, brought it back into the ship.

Genesis 8:10
He waited seven more days and sent out the dove again. It came back in the evening with a freshly picked olive leaf in its beak. Noah knew that the flood was about finished.

Isaiah 25:9
Also at that time, people will say, "Look at what's happened! This is our God! We waited for him and he showed up and saved us! This God , the one we waited for! Let's celebrate, sing the joys of his salvation. God 's hand rests on this mountain!" As for the Moabites, they'll be treated like refuse, waste shoveled into a cesspool. Thrash away as they will, like swimmers trying to stay afloat, They'll sink in the sewage. Their pride will pull them under. Their famous fortifications will crumble to nothing, those mighty walls reduced to dust.

Isaiah 30:18
But God 's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

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.