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

3I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, 4they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will. 6So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace. 7Now as you excel in everything — in faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us — excel also in this act of grace.

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 compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died.
• 1 Samuel 1:28I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” Then he worshiped the Lord there.
• 2 Chronicles 30:8Don’t become obstinate now like your ancestors did. Give your allegiance to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary that he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God so that he may turn his burning anger away from you,
• Isaiah 44:3For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring.
• Jeremiah 31:33“Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” — the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
• Zechariah 13:9I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”
• Romans 6:13And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
• Romans 12:1Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
• Romans 14:7For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
• 2 Corinthians 4:5For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.
• 1 Chronicles 12:18Then the Spirit enveloped Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: We are yours, David, we are with you, son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to him who helps you, for your God helps you. So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.
• 2 Chronicles 30:12Also, the power of God was at work in Judah to unite them to carry out the command of the king and his officials 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