God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 8:2
2While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous.
2 Corinthians 8:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
- New International Version (NIV)In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
- English Standard Version (ESV)for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
- New King James Version (NKJV)that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
Context of 2 Corinthians 8:2
1Brothers and sisters, we want you to know how God showed his kindness to the churches in the province of Macedonia. While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous. 3I assure you that by their own free will they have given all they could, even more than they could afford. 4They made an appeal to us, begging us to let them participate in the ministry of God’s kindness to his holy people ⌞in Jerusalem⌟.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 82 Corinthians 8:2 word by word
ὅτι ἐν πολλῇ δοκιμῇ θλίψεως ἡ περισσεία τῆς χαρᾶς αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ κατὰ βάθους πτωχεία αὐτῶν ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς ἁπλότητος αὐτῶν,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- How thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- a greatπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- trialδοκιμήdokimē · testG1382
- of afflictionθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
- the abundanceπερισσείαperisseia · excessG4050
- of theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- joyχαράchara · joyG5479
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- ·κατάkata · according toG2596
- deepβάθοςbathos · depthG899
- povertyπτωχείαptōcheia · povertyG4432
- aboundedπερισσεύωperisseuō · to exceedG4052
- untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the richesπλοῦτοςploutos · richesG4149
- liberalityἁπλότηςhaplotēs · opennessG572
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 8:2
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6You imitated us and the Lord. In spite of a lot of suffering, you welcomed God’s word with the kind of joy that the Holy Spirit gives.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14You, brothers and sisters, were like the churches of God in Judea that are united with Christ Jesus. You suffered the same persecutions from the people of your own country as those churches did from the Jews
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3so that these troubles don’t disturb any of you. You know that we’re destined to suffer persecution.
- Nehemiah 8:10Then he told them, “Go, eat rich foods, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who cannot provide for themselves. Today is a holy day for the Lord. Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the Lord is your strength.”
- Acts 2:45From time to time, they sold their property and other possessions and distributed the money to anyone who needed it.
- Mark 12:42A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a cent.
- Luke 21:1Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box.
- James 2:5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
- Revelation 2:9I know how you are suffering, how poor you are—but you are rich. I also know that those who claim to be Jews slander you. They are the synagogue of Satan.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10People think we are sad although we’re always glad, that we’re beggars although we make many people spiritually rich, that we have nothing although we possess everything.
- 2 Corinthians 9:11God will make you rich enough so that you can always be generous. Your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God because of us.
- Deuteronomy 15:4In any case, there shouldn’t be any poor people among you, because the Lord your God will certainly bless you in the land he is giving you as your own possession.
- Proverbs 11:25A generous person will be made rich, and whoever satisfies others will himself be satisfied.
- Isaiah 32:5Godless fools will no longer be called nobles, nor will scoundrels be considered gentlemen.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12We are proud that our conscience is clear. We are proud of the way that we have lived in this world. We have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity, especially toward you. It was not by human wisdom that we have lived but by God’s kindness.
- Romans 12:8If it is encouraging others, devote yourself to giving encouragement. If it is sharing, be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 8:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2In a great trial of affliction - The sense of this verse is the following: The Macedonians, though both poor and persecuted, rejoiced exceedingly that an opportunity was afforded them of doing good to their more impoverished and more persecuted brethren. We can scarcely ever speak of poverty and affliction in an absolute sense; they are only comparative. Even the poor are called to relieve those who are poorer than themselves; and the afflicted, to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2How that, in a great trial of affliction - When it might be supposed they were unable to give; when many would suppose they needed the aid of others; or when it might be supposed their minds would be wholly engrossed with their own concerns. The trial to which the apostle here refers was doubtless some persecution which was excited against them, probably by the Jews; see Acts 16:20; Acts 17:5. The abundance of their joy - Their joy arising from the hopes…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2The churches in Macedonia included the church in Philippi. According to Acts and Philippians, this church faced many troubles and was very poor. Despite this, they generously sent gifts to Paul and supported the collection (8:4–5; Philippians 1:5; 2:25–30; 4:15–20).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. trial of affliction--The Greek expresses, "in affliction (or, 'tribulation') which tested them"; literally, "in a great testing of affliction." abundance of their joy--The greater was the depth of their poverty, the greater was the abundance of their joy. A delightful contrast in terms, and triumph, in fact, of spirit over flesh. their deep poverty--Greek, "their poverty down to the death of it." abounded unto the riches of their liberality--another…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 8:2
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries