2 Corinthians · SBL Greek New Testament
2 Corinthians 8 SBL Greek New Testament
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Γνωρίζομεν δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δεδομένην ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Μακεδονίας,
1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,
2 ὅτι ἐν πολλῇ δοκιμῇ θλίψεως ἡ περισσεία τῆς χαρᾶς αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ κατὰ βάθους πτωχεία αὐτῶν ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς ⸂τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς ἁπλότητος αὐτῶν·
2 how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.
3 ὅτι κατὰ δύναμιν, μαρτυρῶ, καὶ ⸀παρὰ δύναμιν, αὐθαίρετοι
3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
4 μετὰ πολλῆς παρακλήσεως δεόμενοι ἡμῶν, τὴν χάριν καὶ τὴν κοινωνίαν τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους—
4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
5 καὶ οὐ καθὼς ἠλπίσαμεν ἀλλʼ ἑαυτοὺς ἔδωκαν πρῶτον τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἡμῖν διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ,
5 This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
6 εἰς τὸ παρακαλέσαι ἡμᾶς Τίτον ἵνα καθὼς προενήρξατο οὕτως καὶ ἐπιτελέσῃ εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ τὴν χάριν ταύτην·
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
7 ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ἐν παντὶ περισσεύετε, πίστει καὶ λόγῳ καὶ γνώσει καὶ πάσῃ σπουδῇ καὶ τῇ ἐξ ⸂ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ, ἵνα καὶ ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ χάριτι περισσεύητε.
7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.
8 Οὐ κατʼ ἐπιταγὴν λέγω ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἑτέρων σπουδῆς καὶ τὸ τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀγάπης γνήσιον δοκιμάζων·
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
9 γινώσκετε γὰρ τὴν χάριν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅτι διʼ ὑμᾶς ἐπτώχευσεν πλούσιος ὤν, ἵνα ὑμεῖς τῇ ἐκείνου πτωχείᾳ πλουτήσητε.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
10 καὶ γνώμην ἐν τούτῳ δίδωμι· τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῖν συμφέρει, οἵτινες οὐ μόνον τὸ ποιῆσαι ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ θέλειν προενήρξασθε ἀπὸ πέρυσι·
10 I give advice in this: it is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.
11 νυνὶ δὲ καὶ τὸ ποιῆσαι ἐπιτελέσατε, ὅπως καθάπερ ἡ προθυμία τοῦ θέλειν οὕτως καὶ τὸ ἐπιτελέσαι ἐκ τοῦ ἔχειν.
11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
12 εἰ γὰρ ἡ προθυμία πρόκειται, καθὸ ἐὰν ⸀ἔχῃ εὐπρόσδεκτος, οὐ καθὸ οὐκ ἔχει.
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
13 οὐ γὰρ ἵνα ἄλλοις ἄνεσις, ⸀ὑμῖν θλῖψις· ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἰσότητος
13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
14 ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ τὸ ὑμῶν περίσσευμα εἰς τὸ ἐκείνων ὑστέρημα, ἵνα καὶ τὸ ἐκείνων περίσσευμα γένηται εἰς τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα, ὅπως γένηται ἰσότης·
14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack, that there may be equality.
15 καθὼς γέγραπται· Ὁ τὸ πολὺ οὐκ ἐπλεόνασεν, καὶ ὁ τὸ ὀλίγον οὐκ ἠλαττόνησεν.
15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
16 Χάρις δὲ τῷ θεῷ τῷ ⸀διδόντι τὴν αὐτὴν σπουδὴν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ Τίτου,
16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
17 ὅτι τὴν μὲν παράκλησιν ἐδέξατο, σπουδαιότερος δὲ ὑπάρχων αὐθαίρετος ἐξῆλθεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.
17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
18 συνεπέμψαμεν δὲ μετʼ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀδελφὸν οὗ ὁ ἔπαινος ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ διὰ πασῶν τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν—
18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies.
19 οὐ μόνον δὲ ἀλλὰ καὶ χειροτονηθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν συνέκδημος ἡμῶν ⸀σὺν τῇ χάριτι ταύτῃ τῇ διακονουμένῃ ὑφʼ ἡμῶν πρὸς τὴν ⸀αὐτοῦ τοῦ κυρίου δόξαν καὶ προθυμίαν ἡμῶν—
19 Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.
20 στελλόμενοι τοῦτο μή τις ἡμᾶς μωμήσηται ἐν τῇ ἁδρότητι ταύτῃ τῇ διακονουμένῃ ὑφʼ ἡμῶν,
20 We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.
21 ⸂προνοοῦμεν γὰρ καλὰ οὐ μόνον ἐνώπιον κυρίου ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐνώπιον ἀνθρώπων.
21 Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 συνεπέμψαμεν δὲ αὐτοῖς τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν ὃν ἐδοκιμάσαμεν ἐν πολλοῖς πολλάκις σπουδαῖον ὄντα, νυνὶ δὲ πολὺ σπουδαιότερον πεποιθήσει πολλῇ τῇ εἰς ὑμᾶς.
22 We have sent with them our brother whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.
23 εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, κοινωνὸς ἐμὸς καὶ εἰς ὑμᾶς συνεργός· εἴτε ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν, ἀπόστολοι ἐκκλησιῶν, δόξα Χριστοῦ.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.
24 τὴν οὖν ἔνδειξιν τῆς ἀγάπης ὑμῶν καὶ ἡμῶν καυχήσεως ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν εἰς αὐτοὺς ⸀ἐνδεικνύμενοι εἰς πρόσωπον τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν.
24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
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)