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 as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. 7But just as you excel in everything, in faith, speaking, knowledge, and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you also excel in this gracious work. I am not saying this as a command, but as proving, through the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love as well. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire 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

• am not sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• as a commandἐπιταγήepitagē · commandG2003
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the earnestnessσπουδήspoudē · diligenceG4710
• of othersἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
• the sincerityγνήσιοςgnēsios · genuineG1103
• of your loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• asκαίkai · andG2532

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 8:8

• 2 Corinthians 8:10I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
• 2 Corinthians 9:7Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
• 1 Corinthians 7:6But this I say by way of concession, not of command.
• 2 Corinthians 8:1Now, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
• 2 Corinthians 9:2for I know your willingness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
• Romans 11:12Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
• Hebrews 10:24and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,
• 2 Corinthians 8:24Therefore, openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
• 2 Corinthians 6:6in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
• Joshua 24:14“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and do away with the gods which your fathers served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
• Ezekiel 33:31And they come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them; for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart follows their unlawful gain.
• Romans 12:9Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
• Ephesians 4:15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ,
• Ephesians 6:24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
• James 2:14What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
• 1 Peter 1:22Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart,

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