2 Corinthians 8:3

For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

BSB

For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,

KJV

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

ASV

For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, [they gave] of their own accord,

BBE

For I give them witness, that as they were able, and even more than they were able, they gave from the impulse of their hearts,

Original Greek

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ὅτι hoti For G3754 κατὰ kata according to G2596 δύναμιν dunamin [their] ability G1411 μαρτυρῶ marturō I testify [that] G3140 καὶ kai and G2532 παρὰ para beside G3844 δύναμιν dunamin [their] ability G1411 αὐθαίρετοι authairetoi [they were] willing of themselves G830

The early church

Wherefore he nowhere says, 'the richness of the gifts,' but "the riches of their liberality." Now what he says is to this effect; 'their poverty not only was no impediment to their being bountiful, but was even an occasion to them of abounding, just as affliction was of feeling joy. For the poorer they were, the more munificent they were and contributed the more readily.' Wherefore also he admires them exceedingly, for that in the midst of so great poverty they had displayed so great munificence. For "their deep," that is, 'their great and unspeakable,' "poverty," showed their "liberality." But he said not 'showed,' but "abounded;" and he said not "liberality," but "riches of liberality;" that is, an equipoise to the greatness of their poverty, or rather much outweighing it, was the bountifulness they displayed. Then he even explains this more clearly, saying, "For according to their power, I bear witness." Trustworthy is the witness. "And beyond their power." That is, it "abounded unto the riches of their liberality." Or rather, he makes this plain, not by this expression alone, but also by all that follows; for he says, "of their own accord." Lo! yet another excessiveness.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 2 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–6

The grace of God must be owned as the root and fountain of all the good in us, or done by us, at any time. It is great grace and favour from God, if we are made useful to others, and forward to any good work. He commends the charity of the Macedonians. So far from needing that Paul should urge them, they prayed him to receive the gift. Whatever we use or lay out for God, it is only giving him what is his own. All we give for charitable uses, will not be accepted of God, nor turn to our advantage, unless we first give ourselves to the Lord. By ascribing all really good works to the grace of God, we not only give the glory to him whose due it is, but also show men where their strength is. Abundant spiritual joy enlarges men's hearts in the work and labour of love. How different this from the conduct of those who will not join in any good work, unless urged into it!

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Cross-references

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.