Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. New Living Translation 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. English Standard Version and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Berean Standard Bible And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God. Berean Literal Bible And not even as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. King James Bible 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. New King James Version And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. New American Standard Bible and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. NASB 1995 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. NASB 1977 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. Legacy Standard Bible and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. Amplified Bible 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]. Berean Annotated Bible And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord {Kyriō} and then to us, through the will of God {Theou}. Christian Standard Bible and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will. Holman Christian Standard Bible and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version And they did more than we had hoped. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, just as God wanted them to do. English Revised Version and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God. GOD'S WORD® Translation They did more than we had expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord and to us, since this was God's will. Good News Translation It was more than we could have hoped for! First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God's will they gave themselves to us as well. International Standard Version We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God's will. NET Bible And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. New Heart English Bible This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. Webster's Bible Translation And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God: Weymouth New Testament They not only did this, as we had expected, but first of all in obedience to God's will they gave their own selves to the Lord and to us. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God. World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand not according as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the LORD, and to us, through the will of God, Berean Literal Bible And not even as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. Young's Literal Translation and not according as we expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God, Smith's Literal Translation And not as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by the will of God. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd not as we hoped, but they gave their own selves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God: Catholic Public Domain Version And this is beyond what we had hoped, since they gave themselves, first of all to the Lord, and then also to us, through the will of God, New American Bible and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God, New Revised Standard Version and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd this they did, not only as we expected, but first they gave themselves to our LORD, and then to us by the will of God. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And not according to what we had hoped, but they offered themselves to our Lord first and also to us in the will of God, NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand they did this, not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us, through the will of God; Godbey New Testament and not as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us through the will of God: Haweis New Testament And not merely as we hoped, but gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us according to the will of God. Mace New Testament and in this they out-did my expectation; such was the divine pleasure, they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then made me an offer to go themselves to Corinth. Weymouth New Testament They not only did this, as we had expected, but first of all in obedience to God's will they gave their own selves to the Lord and to us. Worrell New Testament and they did this not as we hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God; Worsley New Testament And this they did not merely as we hoped, but first gave themselves unto the Lord, and to us by the will of God. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Generosity Commended…4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God. 6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.… Cross References And not only did they do as we expected, Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, Mark 12:43-44 Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. / For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:3-4 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. / For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” but they gave themselves first to the Lord Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Luke 14:33 In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple. and then to us, 1 Thessalonians 2:8 We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us. 2 Corinthians 12:15 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less? through the will of God. Romans 15:32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God. James 4:15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” Philippians 2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering. Acts 20:35 In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Romans 6:13 Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Treasury of Scripture And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God. first. 2 Corinthians 5:14,15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: … 1 Samuel 1:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. 2 Chronicles 30:8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. unto. 2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 1 Chronicles 12:18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. 2 Chronicles 30:12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD. Jump to Previous Expected Farther First God's Hope Hoped Keeping Obedience Purpose Selves ThemselvesJump to Next Expected Farther First God's Hope Hoped Keeping Obedience Purpose Selves Themselves2 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. And not only did they do as we expected The Macedonian churches, including those in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, were known for their generosity despite their own poverty. Paul had expectations based on their previous actions and the grace of God working in them. This phrase highlights the surprise and gratitude Paul felt for their actions, which exceeded his expectations. The Macedonians' actions serve as a model of Christian giving, emphasizing that true generosity often surpasses human expectations. but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us through the will of God Persons / Places / Events 1. Paul the ApostleThe author of the letter, addressing the church in Corinth. He is commending the Macedonian churches for their generosity. 2. Macedonian Churches The recipients of Paul's praise, known for their generosity despite their own poverty. This includes churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. 3. Corinthian Church The audience of the letter, being encouraged to follow the example of the Macedonian churches in their giving. 4. Titus A fellow worker with Paul, who was involved in organizing the collection for the Jerusalem church. 5. Jerusalem Church The intended recipients of the collection, experiencing poverty and in need of support from other churches. Teaching Points Prioritize Devotion to GodThe Macedonians gave themselves first to the Lord, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God before any other commitments. Generosity in Adversity Despite their poverty, the Macedonians were generous. This teaches us that generosity is not dependent on wealth but on the heart's willingness to give. Align with God's Will Their actions were in accordance with God's will, reminding us to seek and align our actions with God's purposes. Modeling Christ-like Behavior The Macedonians serve as a model for us to follow, demonstrating how to live out our faith through tangible actions. Community Support The collection for the Jerusalem church highlights the importance of supporting fellow believers, fostering unity and care within the body of Christ. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 8:5?2. How can we first give ourselves to the Lord in daily life? 3. What does "by the will of God" mean for our personal decisions? 4. How does 2 Corinthians 8:5 connect with Romans 12:1 about living sacrifices? 5. In what ways can we prioritize God's will over our own desires? 6. How can we encourage others to give themselves fully to God? 7. What does 2 Corinthians 8:5 reveal about the nature of true Christian giving? 8. How does 2 Corinthians 8:5 challenge our understanding of personal sacrifice for faith? 9. In what ways does 2 Corinthians 8:5 emphasize the importance of prioritizing God in our lives? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Corinthians 8? 11. What happens after death according to 'Absent from the Body'? 12. What occurs following death? 13. Why do many Christians feel distant from God even when they pray and follow His commands? 14. Is he present with the Lord now? What Does 2 Corinthians 8:5 Mean And not only did they do as we expected“ And not only did they do as we expected ” (2 Corinthians 8:5) • Paul had simply asked the Macedonian believers to contribute toward the relief of suffering saints (2 Corinthians 8:1-4). • His “expectation” was already high, given their joy in extreme poverty, yet their obedience went beyond the apostolic request. • Their eagerness mirrors other occasions when believers outran apostolic anticipation—see 2 Corinthians 9:2 (“your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise”) and Philippians 4:15-17. Meaning: Genuine devotion to Christ never stops at bare minimums; love presses believers to exceed even godly leaders’ hopes. but they gave themselves first to the Lord “ …but they gave themselves first to the Lord ” (2 Corinthians 8:5) • This phrase reveals the order of priorities: before wallets, schedules, or talents are offered, the heart is surrendered. • Romans 12:1 calls believers to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice,” grounding every act of service in personal consecration. • Matthew 22:37 reminds us that full-hearted love for God is the foremost command. Meaning: Christian giving is an overflow of total devotion; money follows mastery—Christ’s mastery over the believer. and then to us “ …and then to us ” (2 Corinthians 8:5) • After yielding to the Lord, the Macedonians willingly submitted to apostolic oversight, entrusting their gifts to Paul and his team (cf. Acts 4:34-35). • Such submission aligns with Hebrews 13:17, urging believers to obey spiritual leaders, and 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, calling for esteem of those who labor in the word. • Their action underscores that proper channels of ministry giving safeguard integrity and maximize impact. Meaning: True devotion to Christ expresses itself in cooperative partnership with trustworthy, God-appointed leadership. through the will of God “ …through the will of God.” (2 Corinthians 8:5) • The entire process—exceeding expectations, wholehearted surrender, orderly partnership—rests on divine initiative, not human pressure. • Romans 12:2 speaks of living in line with God’s “good, pleasing, and perfect will,” while 2 Corinthians 8:1 attributes Macedonian generosity to “the grace of God.” • Their giving thus becomes a testimony of God’s sovereign work in ordinary saints, encouraging others to seek His guidance in every offering. Meaning: Generosity birthed and directed by God’s will glorifies Him and assures both giver and receiver of heaven’s endorsement. summary 2 Corinthians 8:5 shows that authentic Christian generosity surpasses expectations because it begins with total self-surrender to the Lord, flows into cooperative partnership with godly leaders, and is powered by the sovereign will of God. When believers give themselves first to Christ, every subsequent gift—time, talent, treasure—becomes a joyful expression of His grace working through them. (5) Not as we hoped . . .--This means, of course, that they had done what was far beyond his hopes; and here the point lies in the fact that they gave, not their money only, but themselves, their time, thought, energy, primarily to Christ as their Lord, and then to the Apostle as His minister. And this they had done because they allowed the will of God to work upon their will.Verse 5. - Not as we hoped; rather, not as we expected. They were so poor that it was impossible to expect much from them, but they surpassed my expectations in every way. The Church of Philippi, perhaps under the influence of Lydia, was remarkable for generosity, and was the only Church from which St. Paul would accept any personal help (Philippians 2:25; Philippians 4:15-18). First. "They gave themselves to the Lord, which is the best of all, and they gave themselves as helpers to us also - by the will of God." (For a similar use of "and" to imply a matter of less importance, see Acts 15:28.) The phrase, "by the will of God," implies thanksgiving to God for the grace which enabled them to give themselves to him, and their goods to his saints. Being "a peculiar people," they naturally showed themselves "zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). First (Romans 1:16; Romans 2:9, 10).Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Andκαὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. not [only] οὐ (ou) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. [did they do] as καθὼς (kathōs) Adverb Strong's 2531: According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that. we expected, ἠλπίσαμεν (ēlpisamen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural Strong's 1679: To hope, hope for, expect, trust. From elpis; to expect or confide. but ἀλλ’ (all’) Conjunction Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise. they gave ἔδωκαν (edōkan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give. themselves ἑαυτοὺς (heautous) Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself. first πρῶτον (prōton) Adverb - Superlative Strong's 4412: First, in the first place, before, formerly. Neuter of protos as adverb; firstly. to the τῷ (tō) Article - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Lord Κυρίῳ (Kyriō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master. and then καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. to us, ἡμῖν (hēmin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. because it was διὰ (dia) Preposition Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. [the] will θελήματος (thelēmatos) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular Strong's 2307: An act of will, will; plur: wishes, desires. From the prolonged form of ethelo; a determination, i.e. choice or inclination. of God. Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. Links 2 Corinthians 8:5 NIV2 Corinthians 8:5 NLT 2 Corinthians 8:5 ESV 2 Corinthians 8:5 NASB 2 Corinthians 8:5 KJV 2 Corinthians 8:5 BibleApps.com 2 Corinthians 8:5 Biblia Paralela 2 Corinthians 8:5 Chinese Bible 2 Corinthians 8:5 French Bible 2 Corinthians 8:5 Catholic Bible NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 8:5 This was not as we had hoped (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor) |
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