2 Corinthians 8:5
2 Corinthians 8:5-7 The Message (MSG)
This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That’s what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you’re articulate, you’re insightful, you’re passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too.
2 Corinthians 8:5 King James Version (KJV)
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
2 Corinthians 8:5 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
2 Corinthians 8:5 New Century Version (NCV)
And they gave in a way we did not expect: They first gave themselves to the Lord and to us. This is what God wants.
2 Corinthians 8:5 American Standard Version (ASV)
and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
2 Corinthians 8:5 New International Version (NIV)
And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
2 Corinthians 8:5 New King James Version (NKJV)
And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
2 Corinthians 8:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could].
2 Corinthians 8:5 New Living Translation (NLT)
They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.