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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

2 Corinthians 8:8-10

2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 Corinthians 8:8 not as a command. Giving to the Lord’s work must be voluntary. was rich... became poor. A reference to Christ’s status as the eternal Son of God in heaven (John 1:1; Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:6) and the humility of his life on earth, including his death (Philippians 2:7). He did these things so that believers might become rich (might have salvation and all its benefits).

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See also 2 Corinthians 8:8-10 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Corinthians 8:8. _I 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 mus...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I 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 pres...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    II. THE MINISTRY OF GIVING. CHAPTER S 8-9 1. The Examples and Principles of Giving. CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The Grace of God Manifested in the Churches of Macedonia. (2 Corinthians 8:1)_ 2. The Great Examp...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    2 CORINTHIANS 8, 9. THE COLLECTION FOR POOR CHRISTIANS AT JERUSALEM. Paul attached the highest importance to this collection, to which he seems to have invited all the Gentile churches to contribute....

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    AN APPEAL FOR GENEROSITY (2 Corinthians 8:1-15)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God which was given in the Churches of Macedonia. We want you to know that even when they were going through a severe test of their faith when things w...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BY. Greek. _kata._ App-104. COMMANDMENT. Greek. _epitage._ See Romans 16:20. BY OCCASION OF. = through. Greek. _dia_, as in 2 Corinthians 8:5. FORWARDNESS. Same as "diligence" in...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I steak not by commandment_ The Apostles "never spoke as dictators. Robertson. See ch. 2 Corinthians 1:24, and 2 Corinthians 8:10, as well as 1Co 7:6; 1 Corinthians 7:25;...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    EXHORTATIONS AND INDUCEMENTS TO GIVE ACCORDING TO THEIR MEANS He is a sensitive man dealing with sensitive people; and he points out that he is not giving orders, which are not needed and would mar t...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΟΥ̓ ΚΑΤʼ ἘΠΙΤΑΓῊΝ ΛΈΓΩ. NOT BY WAY OF COMMAND AM I SPEAKING (comp. 1 Corinthians 7:6 : the phrase is used somewhat differently Romans 16:26; 1 Timothy 1:1;...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THERE MUST BE A WILLING MIND 2 CORINTHIANS 8:7-12:_ The Corinthian brethren seemed to have thought of themselves as abounding in faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence, and in love. Paul now encourag...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΠΙΤΑΓΉΝ (G2003) повеление, ΔΙΆ (G1223) с _gen._ через. Вводит причину, по которой он обращается с просьбой, ΓΝΉΣΙΟΣ (G1103) искренний, подлинный. Изначальное значение ("законный ребенок") было выте...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2033 LIBERALITY TO THE POOR RECOMMENDED 2 Corinthians 8:7. _As ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye a...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND TO PROVE THE SINCERITY OF YOUR LOVE.— _The genuine temper,_ &c. Locke. Taking as we may, without violence to the words, the original, δοκιμαζων for _drawing out a proof,_ and the word γνησιον for...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    APPLEBURY'S COMMENTS _Principles Regulating Giving Scripture_ 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTARY SECTION 2 Credibility (2 Corinthians 8:8-15) 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9For you know the grace of o...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. NOT BY COMMANDMENT - `not by way of commandment.' BY OCCASION OF [ dia (G1223)...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    7 Is it not remarkable that Macedonia, poverty stricken, in the midst of extreme affliction, deterred from contributing by Paul, entreats for the privilege as a favor, while Corinth, undoubtedly far r...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    _(A) 8:1-9. THE EXAMPLE OF MACEDONIA_ 1-5. Paraphrase. 'I wish you to know how liberally and spontaneously the Churches of Macedonia have contributed to the relief of their fellow-disciples in Jerusa...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PARAPHRASE. 'The collection prospered so well here that we asked Titus to complete this work of charity which he organised on his former visit. (7) See, therefore, that you manifest this gift in the s...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD SHOWS HIS POWER WHEN WE ARE WEAK 2 CORINTHIANS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 8 V1 Brothers, we want to tell you about the kindness that God showed to the churches in Macedonia. V2 Even when they wer...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    I SPEAK NOT BY COMMANDMENT. — The English, and, indeed, the Greek also, is to some extent ambiguous, and leaves us uncertain whether he disclaims merely the tone of command or the sanction of a divine...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 20 THE GRACE OF LIBERALITY. 2 Corinthians 8:1 (R.V) WITH the eighth chapter begins the second of the three great divisions of this Epistle. It is concerned exclusively with the collection wh...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    HE COUNSELS (THOUGH HE WILL NOT COMMAND) THAT THEY FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE MACEDONIAN CHURCHES, ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    οὐ κατʼ ἐπιταγὴν λέγω κ. τ. λ.: _I speak not by way of commandment, i.e._, I do not give you an authoritative and formal command (as I might do), _but as proving through the earnestness of others, sc....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    STIMULATING TO LIBERALITY 2 Corinthians 8:1 Surely the plea for a generous gift of money toward the collection which Paul was making for the poor saints in Jerusalem, could not have been more tenderl...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The apostle now turned to the subject of the collection for the saints at Jerusalem, concerning which he had written in his previous letter 1 Corinthians 16:1). He cites the example of the churches in...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    VERSE 8 Paul was not commanding them to give, as that must be a personal decision to be of value. Rather, he would use an example to inspire them and will look to the gift as a measure of their love....

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (3) I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the (e) forwardness of others, and to prove the (f) sincerity of your love. (3) Thirdly, he warns them to live up to the expectation which Paul and...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; (2) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abound...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _AN APOSTLE PLEADING FOR LIBERALITY IN GIVING_ ‘I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.’ 2 Corinthians 8:8 If you will gla...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    8._I speak not according to commandment _Again he qualifies his exhortation, by declaring that he did not at all intend to compel them, as if he were imposing any necessity upon them, for that is to _...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    _ Commentary for this Chapter is probably included in the next or previous Chapter s._...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I SPEAK NOT BY COMMANDMENT,.... Either of God, who has not fixed the certain times when, or certain sums which persons are to give, and other circumstances, which are left to discretion; but in genera...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. Ver. 8. _To prove the sincerity_] Gr. το γνησιον, the germanity, the naturalness, le...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Insomuch that_ Seeing this forwardness in them; _we desired Titus, that as he had begun_ When he was with you before; _so he would also_ now _finish_ among _you the same grace_ That is, fruit of grac...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    NOT BY COMMANDMENT; he did not command as to the amount of their contribution; but from the example of others, and to show their love to God and men, he endeavors to persuade them to be liberal. THE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A proof of their love for Christ:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I SPEAK NOT BY COMMANDMENT, BUT BY OCCASION OF THE FORWARDNESS OF OTHERS, AND TO PROVE THE SINCERITY OF YOUR LOVE....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Chapter s 8 and 9 deal with the subject of proper care for poor saints on the part of the assembly. The wisdom and delicacy with which the apostle writes is both admirable and beautiful. He avoids abs...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-9 Faith is the root; and as without faith it is not possible to please God, Hebrews 11:6, so those who abound in faith, will abound in other graces and good works also; and this will work and show...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I do not speak in an imperious way, as one that commandeth you; or rather, God hath no where given an express command as to the quantum of what you should give; but _the forwardness of others_ makes m...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. [Paul here speaks of liberality as a grace or gift of the Spirit. Paul testifies th...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Corinthians 8:8 speak G3004 (G5719) not G3756 by G2596 commandment G2003 but G235 G2532 testing G1381 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.' He does not want them to think that he is saying this as a commandment from God,...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A PLEA CONCERNING THE PAYING OF THEIR ‘DEBT' TO THE JERUSALEM CHURCH BY MEANS OF ‘THE COLLECTION' WHICH WAS TO BE FOR THE RELIEF OF THE EXTREME POVERTY OF THE SAINTS IN THAT CHURCH AND WHICH WOULD ITS...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2 Corinthians 8:8. I SPEAK NOT BY WAY OF COMMANDMENT as laying my commands upon you to exercise your liberality, BUT AS PROVING THROUGH THE EARNESTNESS OF OTHERS THE SINCERITY ALSO OF YOUR LOVE to let...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    PROVING (δοκιμαζων). Testing and so proving.THE SINCERITY ALSO OF YOUR LOVE (κα το της υμετερας αγαπης γνησιον). Old adjective, contraction of γενεσιος (γινομα), legitimately born, not spurious....

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Corinthians 8:8 An Apostle pleading for Liberality in Giving. If you will glance at the context, two things appear on the surface of it: first that St. Paul is very anxious to obtain a handsome con...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    The apostle is writing concerning a certain collection which was being made for the poor saints of Jerusalem. It was from Jerusalem that the gospel had spread into Greece, and, therefore, those who ha...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Although this is rather a practical than a spiritual chapter, I hope that we shall get profit out of it by the teaching of the Spirit of God who inspired Paul to write it. Paul was writing to the chur...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Collection for the poor. Exhortation concerning the grace of giving. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Paul, Titus. CONCLUSION: Those who truly love the Lord Jesus Who became poor for our sakes, mak...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Corinthians 8:1. _Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God._ Better to say, It is requisite that I should apprise you of the grace that God has conferred on the churches of Macedonia...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    ANY RULES. "I do not command you to do this. This must be a work of love, and so voluntary." TO FIND OUT. "The example of the Macedonian churches has given me the courage to ask you to do this, and wh...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Therefore, as ye abound in everything._ THE GRACE OF LIBERALITY I. WHY we ought to give a portion of our substance to the lord. It is a duty clearly enjoined in Scripture. The practice of giving to...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 8 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He exhorts the Corinthians to imitate the generosity of the Macedonian Christians in sending alms to the poor at Jerusalem. II. He points (ver. 9) to the exampl...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Observe: 1. 2 Corinthians 8:1 to 2 Corinthians 9:15 is one continuous section, concerned with the _completion_ of the Corinthian contribution to Paul’s great Jerusalem Christian Poor...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION Liberality shown by the Macedonian Churches (2 Corinthians 8:1). He is sending Titus to receive their contribution for the Church of Jerusalem, and he invites them to give according to the...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit [or we would bring to your remembrance] of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 7:12; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 1 Corinthians 7:6; 1 John 3:17;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Sincerity (gnhsion). Used by Paul only. Contracted from genhsiov legitimately born : hence genuine. Paul calls Timothy his lawful son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2). The kindred adverb gnhsiwv sincerely...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE GRACE OF GIVING 2 Corinthians 8:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Our Lord lifts Christian liberality out of the mire of coercive necessity, into the realm of grace. As introductory to this sermon on giving...

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