2 Corinthians 8
8
The Grace of Generosity
1 Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a rigorous test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the depth of their poverty overflowed into the riches of their generosity. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave* of their own accord, 4 imploring us with much urging for the favour of participating in the ministry to the saints,* 5 and not just as we had expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us, by the will of God. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had previously begun, so he would also complete among you this act of grace as well. 7 But even as you excel in everything—in faith and in speech and in knowledge and all earnestness and in the love we have awakened in you*—see* that you also excel in this act of grace.
8 I am not saying this as a commandment, but as testing, through the earnestness of others, the genuineness of your love as well. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you, through His poverty, might become rich. 10 And I give a judgment in this matter, for this is profitable for you, who not only began a year ago to do this, but also to desire to do so.* 11 But now finish doing it also, so that, just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may also be* the completion of it according to what you have. 12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For the purpose is not that others should have ease while you are in distress, but to bring about fairness.* 14 At the present time, your surplus is meant to supply* their lack, so that their surplus may also meet your lack, ensuring that there is equality. 15 Just as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”*
Commendation of Titus
16 But thanks be to God, the One who places the same earnestness in the heart of Titus for you. 17 For he not only* accepted our appeal, but, being very earnest, he has gone to you of his own volition. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel has spread* through all the churches. 19 And not only this, but he has also been chosen by the churches as our fellow traveller to accompany us* with this gift, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and as a demonstration of* our readiness. 20 We are taking every care, lest anyone censure us regarding this abundant gift,* which is being administered by us. 21 For we are making provisions for what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.* 22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found* to be earnest in many things, but now even more earnest because of his great confidence in you. 23 If there is an inquiry concerning Titus,* he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers,* they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore, show to them the proof of your love and of our boasting about you in the presence of the churches.
Notes
3 The independent clause they gave is contextually supplied for clarity
4 Greek …for the favor and the participation of the ministry to the saints
7 Greek the love from us in you
7 The word see, though not found in the Greek text, is contextually understood and is therefore supplied for clarity
10 The infinitive of indirect discourse/verb phrase pro-form to do so is contextually supplied for clarity
11 The modal verb construction there may be is supplied contextually for clarification
13 Greek For it is not that others might have ease while you are in distress, but of equality
14 The word supply used twice in this verse is added to clarify the meaning of the text
15 Quoted from Ex. 16:18
17 The inclusion of not only is contextually supplied to clarify the meaning of the verse
18 The inclusion of has spread is contextually supplied to clarify the meaning of the verse
19 The infinitive phrase to accompany us is supplied contextually for clarification
19 The prepositional phrase as a demonstration of is supplied contextually for clarification
20 Greek regarding this abundance
22 The word found is contextually supplied for clarity
23 Greek If concerning Titus
23 Greek or our brothers
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2 Corinthians 8: AFINTLIT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
