2 Corinthians 8:5

2 Corinthians 8:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

Context of 2 Corinthians 8:5

3For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, 4begging us insistently for the privilege of participating in the service for [the support of] the saints [in Jerusalem]. 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]. 6So we urged Titus that, as he began it, he should also complete this gracious work among you as well. 7But just as you excel in everything, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work [of giving] also.

2 Corinthians 8:5 word by word

καὶ οὐ καθὼς ἠλπίσαμεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἑαυτοὺς ἔδωκαν πρῶτον τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἡμῖν διὰ θελήματος θεοῦRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• notοὐou · noG3756
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• we hopedἐλπίζωelpizō · to hope/expectG1679
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• their own selvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• to the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• unto usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the willθέλημαthelēma · will/desireG2307
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 8:5

• 2 Corinthians 5:14For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died;
• 1 Samuel 1:28Therefore I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And they worshiped the Lord there.
• 2 Chronicles 30:8Now do not stiffen your neck [becoming obstinate] like your fathers, but yield to the Lord and come to His sanctuary which He has sanctified and set apart forever, and serve the Lord your God, so that His burning anger will turn away from you.
• Isaiah 44:3For I will pour out water on him who is thirsty, And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants;
• Jeremiah 31:33“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.
• Zechariah 13:9And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will listen and answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
• Romans 6:13Do not go on offering members of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness. But offer yourselves to God [in a decisive act] as those alive [raised] from the dead [to a new life], and your members [all of your abilities—sanctified, set apart] as instruments of righteousness [yielded] to God.
• Romans 12:1Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.
• Romans 14:7None of us lives for himself [for his own benefit, but for the Lord], and none of us dies for himself [but for the Lord].
• 1 Corinthians 6:19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?
• 2 Corinthians 4:5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
• 1 Chronicles 12:18Then the [Holy] Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David, And with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace be to you, And peace be to him who helps you; For your God helps you.” Then David accepted and received them and made them officers of his troops.
• 2 Chronicles 30:12Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them one heart to do that which the king and the officials had commanded by the word of the Lord.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 8:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Not 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.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5And 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-15Paul now focuses on collecting funds for the Jerusalem church (8:4; 9:1). This relief fund aimed to help the poor believers in the holy city (Acts 11:27–30; Romans 15:25–27, 31; Galatians 2:10). Paul had previously given instructions about this matter (1 Corinthians 16:1–2). Now it was time to gather the funds (2 Corinthians 8:6). Paul hoped this gift from non-Jewish congregations to the Jewish church would strengthen ties between the two groups in the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-53-5. they were willing--rather, supply from 2Co 8:5, the ellipsis thus, "According to their power ... yea, and beyond their power, THEY GAVE." of themselves--not only not being besought, but themselves beseeching us.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 8:5

• Beneficence
• Consecration
• Emulation
• Macedonia
• Poor
• Tact
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• will of God
• Accept
• Accord
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Church
• Church Government
• Collection
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings