2 Corinthians 8:8

2 Corinthians 8:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
• New International Version (NIV)I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

Context of 2 Corinthians 8:8

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. I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it.

2 Corinthians 8:8 word by word

οὐ κατ᾽ ἐπιταγὴν λέγω ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἑτέρων σπουδῆς καὶ τὸ τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀγάπης γνήσιον δοκιμάζων·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• I speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• notοὐou · noG3756
• byκατάkata · according toG2596
• commandmentἐπιταγήepitagē · commandG2003
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• by occasionδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• of the forwardnessσπουδήspoudē · diligenceG4710
• of othersἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• to proveδοκιμάζωdokimazō · to testG1381
• the sincerityγνήσιοςgnēsios · genuineG1103
• of yourὑμέτεροςhumeteros · yourG5212
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 8:8

• 2 Corinthians 8:10And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it.
• 2 Corinthians 9:7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
• 1 Corinthians 7:6I say this as a concession, not as a command.
• 2 Corinthians 8:1We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia:
• 2 Corinthians 9:2For I know your eagerness, and I boast about you to the Macedonians, “Achaia has been ready since last year,” and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
• Romans 11:12Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!
• Hebrews 10:24And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works,
• 2 Corinthians 8:24Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you.
• 2 Corinthians 6:6by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
• Joshua 24:14“Therefore, fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the Lord.
• Ezekiel 33:31So my people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Their mouths go on passionately, but their hearts pursue dishonest profit.
• Romans 12:9Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
• Ephesians 4:15But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head — Christ.
• Ephesians 6:24Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
• James 2:14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?
• 1 Peter 1:22Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 8:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8I speak not by commandment - I do not positively order this; I assume no right or authority over your property; what you devote of your substance to charitable purposes must be your own work, and a free-will offering. The forwardness of others - Viz. the Churches of Macedonia, which had already exerted themselves so very much in this good work. And the apostle here intimates that he takes this opportunity to apprise them of the zeal of the Macedonians…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8I speak not by commandment - This does not mean that he had no express command of God in the case, but that he did not mean to command them; he did not speak authoritatively; he did not intend to prescribe what they should give. He used only moral motives, and urged the considerations which he had done to persuade rather than to command them to give; see 2 Corinthians 8:10. He was endeavoring to induce them to give liberally, not by abstract command and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-9Verses 7-9 Faith is the root; and as without faith it is not possible to please God, He 11:6, so those who abound in faith, will abound in other graces and good works also; and this will work and show itself by love. Great talkers are not always the best doers; but these Corinthians were diligent to do, as well as to know and talk well. To all these good things the apostle desires them to add this grace also, to abound in charity to the poor. The best…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. 88. not by commandment--"not by way of commandment." but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and &c.--rather, "But by (mention of) the forwardness of others (as an inducement to you), and to prove (literally, 'proving') the sincerity of your love." The Greek is "by means of," not "on account of the forwardness," &c. Bengel, Ellicott, and others translate, "By means of the forwardness of others, proving the sincerity of your love ALSO." The former is…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 8:8

• Beneficence
• Emulation
• Liberality
• Love
• Sincerity
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Accept
• Accord
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Church
• Church Government
• Collection
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Forward; Forwardness
• Grace
• Macedonia

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