2 Corinthians 8:3

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,

Legacy Standard Bible
For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,

Simplified Cowboy Version
They didn't just give a little of what they had. They gave more'n what they could actually afford. It wasn't because anyone asked them to do it, either. It was their idea and the result was astonishing joy on their part.

Bible in Basic English
For I give them witness, that as they were able, and even more than they were able, they gave from the impulse of their hearts,

Darby Translation
For according to [their] power, I bear witness, and beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of their own accord,

Christian Standard Bible®
I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability,

World English Bible
For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
That to their power, I testify, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves,

Weymouth's New Testament
For I can testify that to the utmost of their power, and even beyond their power, they have of their own free will given help.

King James Version (1611)
For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselues:

Literal Translation
For I testify that according to their ability and beyond their ability, they willingly gave ,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For to their power (I beare recorde) yee and beyonde their power, they were wyllinge of their awne acorde,

Mace New Testament (1729)
(I bear them witness) yea, and beyond their power:

Amplified Bible
For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily,

American Standard Version
For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

Revised Standard Version
For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For to their powers (I beare recorde) yee and beyonde their power they were willynge of their owne accorde

Update Bible Version
For according to their power, I bear witness, yes and beyond their power, [they gave] of their own accord,

Webster's Bible Translation
For to [their] power, I bear testimony, and even beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of themselves;

Young's Literal Translation
because, according to [their] power, I testify, and above [their] power, they were willing of themselves,

New Century Version
I can tell you that they gave as much as they were able and even more than they could afford. No one told them to do it.

New English Translation
For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,

Berean Standard Bible
For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,

Contemporary English Version
They gave as much as they could afford and even more, simply because they wanted to.

Complete Jewish Bible
I tell you they have not merely given according to their means, but of their own free will they have given beyond their means.

English Standard Version
For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,

Geneva Bible (1587)
For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyonde their power, they were willing,

George Lamsa Translation
For to their power, I can testify, yes, and beyond their power they have shared of their own accord.

Hebrew Names Version
For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

International Standard Version
I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability.

Etheridge Translation
For I testify, that according to their power, and more than their power, in the willingness of their soul,

Murdock Translation
For I testify that, according to their ability, and beyond their ability, in the spontaneity of their mind,

New King James Version
For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

New Living Translation
For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

New Life Bible
They gave as much as they could because they wanted to.

English Revised Version
For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, [they gave] of their own accord,

New Revised Standard
For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
That, according to power, I bear witness, and beyond power, of their own accord, they acted , -

Douay-Rheims Bible
For according to their power (I bear them witness) and beyond their power, they were willing:

King James Version
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

Lexham English Bible
I testify that they gave according to their ability, and beyond their ability, by their own choice,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For to their powers (I beare them recorde) yea & beyonde their powers, they were wyllyng.

Easy-to-Read Version
I can tell you that they gave as much as they were able and even more than they could afford. No one told them to do this. It was their idea.

New American Standard Bible
For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily,

Good News Translation
I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. Of their own free will

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Y bere witnessyng to hem, aftir miyt and aboue miyt thei weren wilful,

Contextual Overview

¹Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. ⁵This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to: 2 Corinthians 9:6, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Mark 14:8, Acts 11:29, 1 Corinthians 16:2, 1 Peter 4:11

I bear: Romans 10:2, Galatians 4:15, Colossians 4:13

beyond: 2 Corinthians 8:12, 2 Corinthians 8:16, 2 Corinthians 8:17, Exodus 35:5, Exodus 35:21, Exodus 35:22, Exodus 35:29, 1 Chronicles 29:5, 1 Chronicles 29:6, 1 Chronicles 29:9, 1 Chronicles 29:13-17, Psalms 110:3, 1 Corinthians 9:17, Philippians 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, Philemon 1:14, 1 Peter 5:2

Reciprocal: Exodus 36:5 - General Judges 5:9 - offered 1 Chronicles 29:2 - with all 2 Chronicles 17:16 - willingly Ezra 2:68 - offered freely Proverbs 3:9 - General Proverbs 19:22 - desire Matthew 14:16 - they Mark 12:44 - cast in of Luke 3:11 - He that hath two Luke 21:3 - more Acts 20:26 - I take 2 Corinthians 8:10 - forward 2 Corinthians 9:11 - enriched

Cross-References

Genesis 7:11
It was the six-hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month that it happened: all the underground springs erupted and all the windows of Heaven were thrown open. Rain poured for forty days and forty nights.

Genesis 7:24
The floodwaters took over for 150 days.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For to [their] power, I bear record,.... They gave according to their ability, to the utmost of it, which is the most that can be desired, or be given; for no man can give more than he has, nor is he required to do more than he is able:

yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; not that they did or could do beyond their power; but they were "willing" beyond their power; their hearts were larger than their purses; they would gladly have done more than they had ability to do; and to this the apostle bears testimony to give it credit, which otherwise might have been called in question: and it is to be observed, that these churches communicated in this cheerful manner and large way, considering their circumstances, to the utmost of their ability, "of themselves"; unasked, not having been put upon, pressed, and urged to such a service; for persons to give when they are asked, especially when they do it readily, at once, without demurring upon it, and with cheerfulness, is much; but to give unasked discovers a very generous and beneficent disposition: this is reckoned by the Jews as one of the excellencies in giving of alms u,

"when a man gives into the hands of another קודם שישאל, "before he asks"; and the next degree to this is, when he gives to him after he asks; and the next to this, who gives less than is proper, but with a cheerful countenance.''

u Maimon. Hileh. Mattanot Anayim, c. 10. sect. 11, 12, 13.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For to their power - To the utmost of their ability.

I bear record - Paul had founded those churches and had spent much time with them. He was therefore well qualified to bear testimony in regard to their condition.

Yea, and beyond their power - Beyond what could have been expected; or beyond what it would have been thought possible in their condition. Doddridge remarks that this is a noble hyperbole, similar to that used by Demosthenes when he says, “I have performed all, even with an industry beyond my power.” The sense is, they were willing to give more than they were well able. It shows the strong interest which they had in the subject, and the anxious desire which they had to relieve the needs of others.

Of themselves - (αὐθαίρεται authairetai). Acting from choice, self-moved, voluntarily, of their own accord. They did not wait to be urged and pressed to do it. They rejoiced in the opportunity of doing it. They came forward of their own accord and made the contribution. “God loveth a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7; and from all the accounts which we have of these churches in Macedonia it is evident that they were greatly distinguished for their cheerful liberality.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 8:3. For to their power, c.] In their liberality they had no rule but their ability they believed they were bound to contribute all they could; and even this rule they transgressed, for they went beyond their power-they deprived themselves for a time of the necessaries of life, in order to give to others who were destitute even of necessaries.