2 Corinthians 8:10
New International Version
And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.

New Living Translation
Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it.

English Standard Version
And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.

Berean Standard Bible
And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.

Berean Literal Bible
And I give a judgment in this matter, for this is profitable for you who not only have begun from a year ago to act, but also to will.

King James Bible
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

New King James Version
And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;

New American Standard Bible
I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.

NASB 1995
I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.

NASB 1977
And I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.

Legacy Standard Bible
And I give my opinion in this matter, for this is profitable for you, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.

Amplified Bible
I give you my opinion in this matter: this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to take action [to help the believers in Jerusalem], but also [the first] to desire to do it.

Christian Standard Bible
And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.

American Standard Version
And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But to counsel, I advise you this to help you, because from last year you began, not only to purpose, but also to do:

Contemporary English Version
A year ago you were the first ones to give, and you gave because you wanted to. So listen to my advice.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And herein I give my advice; for this is profitable for you, who have begun not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.

English Revised Version
And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I'm giving you my opinion because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing [to take a collection] but had already started to do it.

Good News Translation
My opinion is that it is better for you to finish now what you began last year. You were the first, not only to act, but also to be willing to act.

International Standard Version
I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started to do it.

Literal Standard Version
And I give an opinion in this: for this [is] expedient to you, who not only to do, but also to will, began before—a year ago,

Majority Standard Bible
And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.

New American Bible
And I am giving counsel in this matter, for it is appropriate for you who began not only to act but to act willingly last year:

NET Bible
So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give,

New Revised Standard Version
And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—

New Heart English Bible
I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

Webster's Bible Translation
And in this I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

Weymouth New Testament
But in this matter I give you an opinion; for my doing this helps forward your own intentions, seeing that not only have you begun operations, but a year ago you already had the desire to do so.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
and an opinion in this do I give: for this to you is expedient, who not only to do, but also to will, did begin before -- a year ago,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Christ's Example
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire. 11Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 7:25
Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

1 Corinthians 7:40
In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed.

2 Corinthians 8:6
So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.

2 Corinthians 9:2
For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.


Treasury of Scripture

And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

I give.

1 Corinthians 7:25,40
Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful…

expedient.

2 Corinthians 12:1
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

Proverbs 19:17
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Matthew 10:42
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

to be.

2 Corinthians 8:8
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

2 Corinthians 9:2
For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

forward.

2 Corinthians 8:3
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

Jump to Previous
Advantage Advice Ago Already Begin Begun Best Clear Complete Desire Expedient First Forward Helps Herein Intentions Judgment Matter Minds Operations Opinion Profit Profitable Ready Start Willing
Jump to Next
Advantage Advice Ago Already Begin Begun Best Clear Complete Desire Expedient First Forward Helps Herein Intentions Judgment Matter Minds Operations Opinion Profit Profitable Ready Start Willing
2 Corinthians 8
1. He stirs them to a generous gift for the poor saints at Jerusalem, by the example of the Macedonians;
7. by commendation of their former forwardness;
9. by the example of Christ;
14. and by the spiritual profit that shall redound to themselves thereby;
16. commending to them the integrity and willingness of Titus, and those other brothers.














(10) And herein I give my advice.--We note the same careful distinction between command and counsel which we have seen in 1Corinthians 7:25.

Who have begun before . . .--Better, who got the start, last year, not only as to the doing, but also as to the willing. At first, the words seem like an anti-climax, but what is meant is that the Corinthians had been before the Macedonian churches in both those stages. They had formed the purpose of giving, they had begun to lay by and to collect, before their rivals had started. They had, as it were, scored those two points in that game of honourable competition. It was "profitable for them" that he, as a by-stander watching the game, should give them a hint, so that they might not at last be ignominiously defeated. It is not easy to fix the exact limits of time indicated in the "year ago." The First Epistle was written about Easter. Then, after remaining at Ephesus for a while, there came the journey to Troas; then that to Macedonia; then the coming of Titus, bringing word that the Corinthians had acted on the command of 1Corinthians 16:1. This would bring us to the autumn months; and St. Paul, reckoning, as a Jew would, the year as beginning with Tisri (September or October), might speak of what had taken place in April or May as done "last year," though there had not been an interval of twelve months.

Verse 10. - And herein I give my advice; and in this matter I offer an opinion (only). For this is expedient for you. It is more to your advantage that I should merely suggest and advise you about the matter than command you. Who have begun; rather, seeing that you formerly began. The verb is the same as in ver. 6. Not only to do, but also to be forward; rather, not only to do, but also to be willing. The "to do" is in the aorist, the "to be willing" in the present. We should naturally have expected a reversed order, "not only to be willing, but also to put in action." There must be a strong touch of irony in the words, unless we interpret it to mean "not only to make the collection, but to be willing to add yet more to it." Perhaps in the "to be willing" lies the notion of "the cheerful giver," "the willing mind "(ch. 9:7; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). A year ago; rather, since the previous year; i.e. last year (ch. 9:2). They had probably begun to collect in the previous Easter, and it was now soon after Tisri, or September, the beginning of the Jewish civil year.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

this
τοῦτο (touto)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

is my opinion
δίδωμι (didōmi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

about
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

what is helpful
συμφέρει (sympherei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4851: From sun and phero; to bear together, i.e. to collect, or to conduce; especially advantage.

for you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

this [matter]:
τούτῳ (toutō)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

Last year
πέρυσι (perysi)
Adverb
Strong's 4070: Last year, a year ago. Adverb from peras; the by-gone, i.e. last year.

[you were]
οἵτινες (hoitines)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

the first
προενήρξασθε (proenērxasthe)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4278: To begin before. From pro and enarchomai; to commence already.

not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

only
μόνον (monon)
Adverb
Strong's 3440: Alone, but, only. Neuter of monos as adverb; merely.

to [give],
ποιῆσαι (poiēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

even
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

to have such a desire.
θέλειν (thelein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 8:10 I give a judgment in this: (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 8:9
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