1 And now we give you news, brothers, about the grace of God which has been given to the churches of Macedonia; 2 How while they were undergoing every sort of trouble, and were in the greatest need, they took all the greater joy in being able to give freely to the needs of others. 3 For I give them witness, that as they were able, and even more than they were able, they gave from the impulse of their hearts, 4 Seriously requesting us that they might have a part in this grace of being servants to the needs of the saints: 5 And going even farther than our hope, they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us after the purpose of God. 6 So that we made a request to Titus that, as he had made a start before, so he might make this grace complete in you. 7 And that as you are full of every good thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way. 8 I am not giving you an order, but using the ready mind of others as a test of the quality of your love. 9 For you see the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how though he had wealth, he became poor on your account, so that through his need you might have wealth. 10 And in this I give my opinion: for it is to your profit, who were the first to make a start a year before, not only to do this, but to make clear that your minds were more than ready to do it. 11 Then make the doing of it complete; so that as you had a ready mind, you may give effect to it as you are able. 12 For if there is a ready mind, a man will have God's approval in the measure of what he has, and not of what he has not. 13 And I am not saying this so that others may get off free, while the weight comes on you: 14 But so that things may be equal; that from those things of which you have more than enough at the present time their need may be helped, and that if you are in any need they may be a help to you in the same way, making things equal. 15 As it says in the Writings, He who had taken up much had nothing over and he who had little had enough. 16 But praise be to God, who puts the same care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For while he gladly gave ear to our request, he was interested enough to go to you from the impulse of his heart. 18 And with him we have sent a brother whose praise in the good news has gone through all the churches; 19 And not only so, but he was marked out by the churches to go with us in the grace of this giving which we have undertaken to the glory of the Lord and to make clear that our mind was ready: 20 And so that no man might be able to say anything against us in the business of this giving which has been put into our hands: 21 For the business has been so ordered by us as to have the approval, not only of the Lord, but of men. 22 And we have sent with them our brother, whose ready spirit has been made clear to us at times and in ways without number, but it is now all the more so because of the certain faith which he has in you. 23 If any question comes up about Titus, he is my brother-worker, working with me for you; or about the others, they are the representatives of the churches to the glory of Christ. 24 Make clear then to them, as representatives of the churches, the quality of your love, and that the things which we have said about you are true.
2 Corinthians · Bible in Basic English
2 Corinthians 8 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Titus
A Greek coworker of Paul, not compelled to be circumcised, who carried Paul's letters to Corinth, and whom Paul left in Crete to set things in order.
Cited in the guide: 2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Galatians 2:3
Cross references (24)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 16:9; 2 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 11:9; Acts 11:23; 2 Corinthians 9:12
- 2 James 2:5; Proverbs 11:25; 2 Corinthians 6:10; Deuteronomy 15:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13
- 3 Exodus 35:29; Exodus 35:5; 2 Corinthians 9:6–7; Exodus 35:21–22; Philemon 14
- 4 Galatians 6:10; Acts 24:17; 2 Corinthians 9:1; Hebrews 6:10; 1 John 3:16–18
- 5 Romans 12:1; Romans 14:7–9; Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 8:1; 2 Chronicles 30:12
- 6 2 Corinthians 12:18; 2 Corinthians 8:19; 2 Corinthians 8:16–17; 2 Corinthians 8:4; Philippians 4:18
- 7 2 Corinthians 9:8; 2 Peter 1:5–8; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Philippians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 13:2
- 8 1 Corinthians 7:6; 1 John 3:17–19; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Corinthians 9:7; James 2:14–16
- 9 Romans 8:32; Philippians 2:6–8; Matthew 20:28; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 6:10
- 10 Hebrews 13:16; 1 Timothy 6:18–19; Proverbs 19:17; James 2:15–16; 2 Corinthians 9:2
- 11 2 Corinthians 9:2
- 12 Mark 12:42–44; Luke 21:1–4; Exodus 35:29; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Exodus 35:21–22
- 13 Acts 4:34; Romans 15:26–27
- 14 2 Corinthians 9:12; Acts 4:34
- 15 Exodus 16:18; Luke 22:35
- 16 Revelation 17:17; Jeremiah 32:40; 2 Corinthians 2:13–14; 2 Corinthians 7:12; Ezra 7:27
- 17 2 Corinthians 8:6; Hebrews 13:22; 2 Corinthians 8:10; 2 Corinthians 8:8
- 18 2 Corinthians 12:18; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 2 Corinthians 8:19; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 8:22–23
- 19 1 Corinthians 16:3–4; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Peter 4:10–11; 2 Corinthians 9:12–14
- 20 Ephesians 5:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; Romans 14:16; Matthew 10:16; 1 Corinthians 16:3
- 21 Romans 12:17; 1 Peter 2:12; Philippians 4:8; Titus 2:5–8; Romans 14:18
- 22 Philippians 2:20–22
- 23 Philippians 2:25; Philemon 17; 3 John 8; 2 Corinthians 8:6; Philippians 4:3
- 24 2 Corinthians 7:14; 2 Corinthians 7:4; 2 Corinthians 8:8; 2 Corinthians 9:2–4
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
See again his exhortation accompanied with commendations, greater commendations. And he said not, that ye give,' but "that ye abound; in faith," namely, of the gifts, and "in utterance," the word of wisdom, and "knowledge," namely, of the doctrines, and "in all earnestness," to the attaining of all other virtue.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
And since His voice is acknowledged in the prophecy, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell," He has brought Him down to hell and brought Him up again. By this poverty of His we are made rich; for "the Lord maketh poor and maketh rich." But that we may know what this is, let us hear what follows: "He …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For having spoken of the noble spirit they had shown in regard of their goods, he saith, "They gave also their own selves to the Lord, and to us."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For while he pursues an upright life, he takes care to maintain a good reputation as well, providing things honest in the sight of God and men, fearing God, and caring for men.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For this cause "He became poor, that He might make us rich;" for this cause He underwent all those sufferings, that He might incite us to ask.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)