New English Translation
2 Corinthians 8:2
2that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity.
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
1Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. 3For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, 4begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.
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 1:6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews,
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.
- Nehemiah 8:10He said to them, “Go and eat delicacies and drink sweet drinks and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the lord is your strength.”
- Acts 2:45and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need.
- Mark 12:42And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny.
- Luke 21:1Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.
- James 2:5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
- Revelation 2:9‘I know the distress you are suffering and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
- 2 Corinthians 9:11You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,
- Deuteronomy 15:4However, there should not be any poor among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land that he is giving you as an inheritance,
- Proverbs 11:25A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.
- Isaiah 32:5A fool will no longer be called honorable; a deceiver will no longer be called principled.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
- Romans 12:8if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.
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
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