2 Corinthians 9:8

THE MESSAGE

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Legacy Standard Bible
And God is able to make every grace abound to you, so that in everything at every time having every sufficiency, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Simplified Cowboy Version
And God won't forget what you give. He will bless you so that your giving will result in you having plenty left over to do other good works.

Bible in Basic English
And God is able to give you all grace in full measure; so that ever having enough of all things, you may be full of every good work:

Darby Translation
But God is able to make every gracious gift abound towards you, that, having in every way always all-sufficiency, ye may abound to every good work:

Christian Standard Bible®
And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

World English Bible
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that having always all sufficiency in all things, ye may abound to every good work:

Weymouth's New Testament
And God is able to bestow every blessing on you in abundance, so that richly enjoying all sufficiency at all times, you may have ample means for all good works.

King James Version (1611)
And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that ye alwayes hauing all sufficiencie in all things, may abound to euery good worke,

Literal Translation
And God is able to make all grace to abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self sufficiency, you may abound to every good work;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
God is able to make you riche in all grace, yt ye in all thinges hauynge sufficiet to the vttemost, maye be riche to all maner of good workes.

Mace New Testament (1729)
and God is able to make every charitable gift redound to your advantage; that being always sufficiently supply'd in every thing, you may excel in every good work:

Amplified Bible
And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

American Standard Version
And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:

Revised Standard Version
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
God is able to make you ryche in all grace that ye in all thynges havynge sufficiet vnto the vttmoste maye be ryche vnto all manner good workes

Update Bible Version
And God is able to make all grace abound to you; that you, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work:

Webster's Bible Translation
And God [is] able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:

Young's Literal Translation
and God [is] able all grace to cause to abound to you, that in every thing always all sufficiency having, ye may abound to every good work,

New Century Version
And God can give you more blessings than you need. Then you will always have plenty of everything—enough to give to every good work.

New English Translation
And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work.

Berean Standard Bible
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Contemporary English Version
God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.

Complete Jewish Bible
Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause —

English Standard Version
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And God is able to make all grace to abound towarde you, that yee alwayes hauing all sufficiencie in all thinges, may abounde in euery good worke,

George Lamsa Translation
God is able to make all goodness abound to you, and may you always have enough of everything for yourselves, and may you abound in every good work:

Hebrew Names Version
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.

International Standard Version
Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work.Proverbs 11:24-25; 28:27; Philippians 4:19;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For it is in the power of Aloha to increase in you every good, that you may always have every thing sufficient, and that you may abound in every good work.

Murdock Translation
For it is in the power of God, to make all good abound to you, so that ye may have, at all times, and in every thing, what is sufficient for you; and may abound in every good work.

New King James Version
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

New Living Translation
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

New Life Bible
God can give you all you need. He will give you more than enough. You will have everything you need for yourselves. And you will have enough left over to give when there is a need.

English Revised Version
And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:

New Revised Standard
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Moreover God is able to cause, every gracious gift, to superabound unto you, in order that, having in every thing, at every time, every kind of sufficiency of your own, ye may be superabounding unto every good work;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And God is able to make all grace abound in you: that ye always, having all sufficiently in all things, may abound to every good work,

King James Version
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Lexham English Bible
And God is able to cause all grace to abound to you, so that in everything at all times, because you have enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
God is able to make you riche in all grace, that ye in all thynges hauyng sufficient vnto the vtmost, may be riche vnto all maner of good workes,

Easy-to-Read Version
And God can give you more blessings than you need, and you will always have plenty of everything. You will have enough to give to every good work.

New American Standard Bible
And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Good News Translation
And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And God is miyti to make al grace abounde in you, that ye in alle thingis euere more han al sufficience, and abounde in to al good werk;

Contextual Overview

⁶Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. ⁸God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. ¹²Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

God: 2 Chronicles 25:9, Psalms 84:11, Proverbs 3:9, Proverbs 10:22, Proverbs 11:24, Proverbs 28:27, Haggai 2:8, Malachi 3:10, Philippians 4:18

all grace: 2 Corinthians 8:19, 1 Peter 4:10

always: 2 Corinthians 9:11, 1 Chronicles 29:12-14

may: 2 Corinthians 8:2, 2 Corinthians 8:7, Acts 9:36, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:17, 2 Timothy 3:17, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:8, Titus 3:14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 15:10 - because 1 Chronicles 29:9 - they offered 2 Chronicles 31:10 - the Lord Psalms 41:1 - Blessed Matthew 7:11 - good Matthew 14:16 - they Matthew 14:21 - about Matthew 26:10 - a good Mark 10:30 - an hundredfold Mark 14:6 - a good John 6:13 - and filled Acts 10:2 - which Romans 4:21 - he was able Romans 15:13 - abound Philippians 4:19 - supply Hebrews 13:21 - every

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And God is able to make all grace abound towards you,.... By "all grace" is meant, not the love and favour of God, the source of all blessings enjoyed in time and eternity; nor the blessings of grace, the fruits of it; nor the Gospel which reveals them; nor the various graces of the Spirit implanted in regeneration; nor gifts of grace, fitting men for ministerial service; all which God is able to make to abound, and does, when he gives enlarged discoveries of his love, makes fresh applications of covenant grace, leads more fully into the knowledge of his Gospel, carries on the work of his grace in the soul, and calls forth grace into act and exercise, and increases gifts bestowed; nor even merely temporal blessings of every sort, which men are unworthy of, are all the gifts of his goodness, and are given to his people in a covenant way; and which he can, and often does increase: but by it is meant all that goodness, beneficence, and liberality exercised towards the poor members of Christ; God is able, and he will, and it ought to be believed that he will, cause to return with an increase, all that which is expended in relieving the necessities of the saints; that is not thrown away and lost, which is communicated to them, but shall be repaid with use and interest, be restored with abundance, any more than the seed which the husbandman casts into the earth; for as God is able, and has promised, and will, and does cause that to spring up again, and bring forth an abundant increase, so will he multiply the seed of beneficence, and increase the fruits of righteousness. This now contains a new argument to move to liberality, and an antidote against the fears of want, which persons are sometimes pressed with, and tend to prevent their bountiful acts of charity:

that ye always having all sufficiency in all things: that is, God is able to increase, and will so increase your worldly substance, that you shall have a sufficiency, a perfect and entire sufficiency; enough for yourselves and families, for the entertainment of your friends, and the relief of the poor; which shall give you satisfaction and contentment, and that at all times, and with respect to everything necessary for you, as to food and raiment, that so ye may abound to every good work; as to all good works, so to this of beneficence in particular, and to every branch of it, as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and the like.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And God is able ... - Do not suppose that by giving liberally you will be impoverished and reduced to want. You should rather confide in God, who is able to furnish you abundantly with what is needful for the supply of your necessities. Few persons are ever reduced to poverty by liberality. Perhaps in the whole circle of his acquaintance it would be difficult for an individual to point out one who has been impoverished or made the poorer in this way. Our selfishness is generally a sufficient guard against this; but it is also to be added, that the divine blessing rests upon the liberal man, and that God keeps him from want. But in the meantime there are multitudes who are made poor by the lack of liberality. They are parsimonious in giving but they are extravagant in dress, and luxury, and in expenses for amusement or vice, and the consequence is poverty and want. “There is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty;” Proverbs 11:24. The divine blessing rests upon the liberal: and while every person should make a proper provision for his family, every one should give liberally, confiding in God that he will furnish the supplies for our future needs. Let this maxim be borne in mind, that no one is usually made the poorer by being liberal.

All grace - All kinds of favor. He is able to impart to you those things which are needful for your welfare.

That ye always ... - The sense is, “If you give liberally you are to expect that God will furnish you with the means, so that you will be able to abound more and more in it.” You are to expect that he will abundantly qualify you for doing good in every way, and that he will furnish you with all that is needful for this. The man who gives, therefore, should have faith in God. He should expect that God will bless him in it; and the experience of the Christian world may be appealed to in proof that people are not made poor by liberality.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 9:8. God is able to make all grace abound — We have already seen, 2 Corinthians 8:1 that the word χαρις, in the connection in which the apostle uses it in these chapters, signifies a charitable gift; here it certainly has the same meaning: God is able to give you, in his mercy, abundance of temporal good; that, having a sufficiency, ye may abound in every good work. This refers to the sowing plenteously: those who do so shall reap plenteously-they shall have an abundance of God's blessings.