2 Corinthians 8:10

2 Corinthians 8:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
• New International Version (NIV)And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;

Context of 2 Corinthians 8:10

8I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

2 Corinthians 8:10 word by word

καὶ γνώμην ἐν τούτῳ δίδωμι· τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῖν συμφέρει, οἵτινες οὐ μόνον τὸ ποιῆσαι ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ θέλειν προενήρξασθε ἀπὸ πέρυσι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• hereinἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• I giveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• adviceγνώμηgnōmē · resolutionG1106
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• is expedientσυμφέρωsumpherō · be profitableG4851
• for youσύsu · youG4771
• whoὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• have begun beforeπροενάρχομαιproenarchomai · to begin beforehandG4278
• notοὐou · noG3756
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• to doὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• to be forwardθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• ·ἀπόapo · away fromG575
• a year agoπέρυσιperusi · last yearG4070

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 8:10

• 1 Corinthians 7:25Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you.
• 2 Corinthians 12:1This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.
• Proverbs 19:17If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord— and he will repay you!
• Matthew 10:42And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
• John 11:50You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”
• John 16:7But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
• John 18:14Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:12You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.
• 1 Corinthians 10:23You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.
• Philippians 4:17I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
• 1 Timothy 6:18Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.
• Hebrews 13:16And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
• James 2:15Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,
• 2 Corinthians 8:8I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
• 2 Corinthians 9:2For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.
• 2 Corinthians 8:3For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 8:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Herein I give my advice - For I speak not by way of commandment, 2 Corinthians 8:8. For this is expedient for you - It is necessary you should do this to preserve a consistency of conduct; for ye began this work a year ago, and it is necessary that ye should complete it as soon as possible. Not only to do, but also to be forward - - , literally, to do and to will; but as the will must be before the deed, , must be taken here in the sense of delight, as it…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10And herein I give my advice - Not undertaking to command them, or to prescribe how much they should give. Advice will go much further than commands on the subject of charities. For this is expedient for you - ( ́ sumpherei). That is, this will be of advantage to you; it will be profitable; it will be becoming. The idea is, that they were bound by a regard to consistency and to their own welfare, to perform what they had purposed. It became them; it was…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-15Verses 10-15 Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to behold, and give hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing without good deeds. Good beginnings are well; but we lose the benefit, unless there is perseverance. When men purpose that which is good, and endeavour, according to their ability, to perform also, God will not reject them for what it is not in their power to do. But this scripture will not justify those who think…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10A year ago, you began collecting an offering for Jerusalem, inspired by 1 Corinthians 16:1–2. Therefore, this letter is written at least one year after 1 Corinthians.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. advice--Herein he does not (as some misinterpret the passage) disclaim inspiration for the advice he gives; but under the Spirit, states that it is his "opinion" [Alford] or "judgment" [Ellicott, and others], not a command, that so their offering might be free and spontaneous. this--my giving you an advice, not a command. who have begun before--"seeing that ye have begun before" the Macedonian churches; "a year ago" should be connected with this…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 8:10

• Beneficence
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

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

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