2 Corinthians 8:5

THE MESSAGE

This 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.

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But the most astonishing part wasn't the money. Before they gave the money, they gave themselves wholeheartedly. If you're looking for what God wants from his cowboys, this is it!

Bible in Basic English
And going even farther than our hope, they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us after the purpose of God.

Darby Translation
And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.

Christian Standard Bible®
and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God's will.

World English Bible
This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And this they did, not as we hoped; but first gave themselves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God:

Weymouth's New Testament
They not only did this, as we had expected, but first of all in obedience to God's will they gave their own selves to the Lord and to us.

King James Version (1611)
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gaue their owne selues to the Lord, and vnto vs, by the will of God.

Literal Translation
And not as we hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us through the will of God,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And not as we loked for, but gaue ouer them selues first to the LODRE, and afterwarde vnto vs by ye wyl of God,

Mace New Testament (1729)
and in this they out-did my expectation; such was the divine pleasure, they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then made me an offer to go themselves to Corinth.

Amplified Bible
Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could].

American Standard Version
and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

Revised Standard Version
and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And this they did not as we loked for: but gave their awne selves fyrst to the lorde and after vnto vs by the will of God:

Update Bible Version
and [this], not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

Webster's Bible Translation
And [this they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God:

Young's Literal Translation
and not according as we expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,

New Century Version
And they gave in a way we did not expect: They first gave themselves to the Lord and to us. This is what God wants.

New English Translation
And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

Berean Standard Bible
And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.

Contemporary English Version
And they did more than we had hoped. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, just as God wanted them to do.

Complete Jewish Bible
Also, they didn't do this in the way we had expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, which means, by God's will, to us.

English Standard Version
and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And this they did, not as we looked for: but gaue their owne selues, first to the Lorde, and after vnto vs by the will of God,

George Lamsa Translation
And this they did, not only as we expected, but first they gave themselves to our LORD, and then to us by the will of God.

Hebrew Names Version
This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

International Standard Version
We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God's will.

Etheridge Translation
And not as we had supposed, but they gave themselves up first to the Lord, and also to us by the will of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
5 And not [fn] as we had expected, but they first gave themselves unto the Lord, and to us by the will of God.

New King James Version
And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

New Living Translation
They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

New Life Bible
It was more than we expected. They gave themselves to the Lord first. Then they gave themselves to us to be used as the Lord wanted.

English Revised Version
and [this], not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God.

New Revised Standard
and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, not merely as we hoped, but, themselves, gave they, first, unto the Lord and unto us through God's will,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And not as we hoped: but they gave their own selves, first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God;

King James Version
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Lexham English Bible
and not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, by the will of God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
[And this they dyd] not as we loked for: but gaue their owne selues first to the Lorde, and [after] vnto vs by the wyll of God.

Easy-to-Read Version
And they gave in a way that we did not expect: They gave themselves to the Lord and to us before they gave their money. This is what God wants.

New American Standard Bible
and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

Good News Translation
It was more than we could have hoped for! First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God's will they gave themselves to us as well.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And not as we hopiden, but thei yauen hem silf first to the Lord, aftirward to vs bi the wille of God.

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

first: 2 Corinthians 5:14, 2 Corinthians 5:15, 1 Samuel 1:28, 2 Chronicles 30:8, Isaiah 44:3-5, Jeremiah 31:33, Zechariah 13:9, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1, Romans 14:7-9, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 6:20

unto: 2 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Chronicles 12:18, 2 Chronicles 30:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 10:26 - cattle Deuteronomy 26:17 - avouched Ruth 2:16 - General 2 Kings 11:17 - made a covenant 2 Chronicles 15:12 - they entered 2 Chronicles 29:10 - to make a covenant Psalms 119:106 - sworn Proverbs 23:26 - give Isaiah 14:2 - and the house Isaiah 44:5 - subscribe Isaiah 56:6 - join Isaiah 60:9 - thy sons Jeremiah 50:5 - Come Acts 17:4 - consorted Romans 15:16 - offering up 1 Thessalonians 1:6 - ye 1 Timothy 4:15 - give

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.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And this they did not as we hoped,.... All this was unexpected by the apostles, who knew their great affliction and deep poverty, and therefore could not have hoped for such a collection from them; or that they would have desired the apostle to have ministered it for them:

but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God; the sense of which is not barely, or only, that they committed themselves to the care of Providence in all their afflictions and poverty, trusting in God that he would provide for them for time to come, and therefore even in their strait circumstances gave liberally; and were so much under the direction of the apostles, God so disposing their minds, that they were willing to do or give anything that they should say was proper; yea, were very willing that some of their number should leave their habitations and families to accompany them, in forwarding this good work elsewhere: but the apostle seems to have respect to what these persons did at first conversion, when they gave themselves to Christ, to be saved by him, and him alone; and to serve him to the uttermost, in everything, he should signify to be his will; and when they joined themselves to the churches of Christ, and put themselves under the care, government, and direction of the apostles, who were over the churches in the Lord: and therefore though what the members of these churches collected, was very wonderful and beyond expectation; yet when it is considered that these persons had long ago given their whole selves, their all to Christ, had committed all into his hands, and devoted themselves entirely to his service; and had declared their subjection to his ministers as servants under him, and to his word and ordinances as ministered by them; it need not be so much wondered at, that they should be so liberal in giving away their worldly substance for the relief of Christ's poor members, when they had given their precious souls, their immortal all, and had committed the salvation of them entirely to him. Giving themselves to Christ, in this sense, supposes that they had a true sight and apprehension of their state and condition by nature, how sinful they were, and lost and undone in themselves; that they were destitute of a righteousness, and unable to obtain one by the works of the law; that they were in hopeless and helpless circumstances, as considered in themselves; that they were diseased from head to foot, and could not cure themselves; that they were dead in law, and liable to the curse and condemnation of it; for till men see themselves in such a case they will never give themselves to Christ, or betake themselves to him to be saved by him. Moreover, this supposes some knowledge of him as God's ordinance for salvation, as the Saviour of the Father's appointing and sending; of him, as having effected it by his obedience and death; of his being the only Saviour, a suitable one, both able and willing to save to the uttermost, even the chief of sinners that come to God by him. It is expressive of faith in Christ; of seeing the Son and the fulness of grace and salvation in him, and of going to him for it; of staying, resting, leaning, and relying upon him, venturing on him, committing all into his hands, and trusting him with all and for all. It denotes subjection to him, as their husband, to whom they give themselves as his spouse and bride, and consent to be the Lord's in a conjugal relation; and submission to him in all his offices, as a prophet to be taught and instructed by him, as a priest to be washed in his blood, and justified by his righteousness, to which they heartily submit, and as their Lord and King to the sceptre of his kingdom, the laws of his house, and ordinances of his Gospel; for they are made a willing people, not only to be saved by him, but to serve him in body and soul, and with all they have; as it is but right they should, since he has given himself, his all, for them. Giving themselves up to the apostles, signifies not a surrender of themselves to them as lords over God's heritage, to be governed and ruled over in a tyrannical and arbitrary way; but a submitting of themselves to them, as Christ's servants set over them in the Lord, whilst they minister the word and administer the ordinances, according to the will of Christ; owning them as their fathers, or instructors, and guides, and as watchmen and overseers placed in and over the churches, for their spiritual welfare: all which is,

by the will of God: as that poor sensible sinners should give up themselves to Christ, to be saved by him, and serve him; and that they should join themselves to the churches, and be subject to the care, teachings, and government of his servants in his house.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And this they did ... - They did not give what we expected only. We knew their poverty, and we expected only a small sum from them.

Not as we hoped - Not according to the utmost of our hopes. We were greatly disappointed in the amount which they gave, and in the manner in which it was done.

But first gave their ownselves to the Lord - They first made an entire consecration of themselves and all that they had to the Lord. They kept nothing back. They felt that all they had was his. And where a people honestly and truly devote themselves to God, they will find no difficulty in having the means to contribute to the cause of charity.

And unto us by the will of God - That is, they gave themselves to us to be directed in regard to the contribution to be made. They complied with our wishes and followed our directions. The phrase “by the will of God,” means evidently that God moved them to this, or that it was to be traced to his direction and providence. It is one of the instances in which Paul traces everything that is right and good to the agency and direction of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 8:5. Not as we hoped — They far exceeded our expectations, for they consecrated themselves entirely to the work of God; giving themselves and all they possessed first unto the Lord; and then, as they saw that it was the will of God that they should come especially forward in this charitable work, they gave themselves to us, to assist to the uttermost in providing relief for the suffering Christians in Judea.