2 Corinthians 4:15
in 2 Corinthians 4All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.
KJV
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 4
Commentary
13 notes on this verseAnd hinting at the false apostles, who said that through their mediation the blessings of God were communicated to their disciples, he says: "all things are for your sakes," even the resurrection itself, and not for the sake of this one or that one. God …
This site's exposition
the One who raised the Lord Jesus
on 2 Corinthians 4:14-15
The life shown in a dying body now receives its guarantee: the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus. The chapter turns here from present suffering to the certain future that makes it bearable.
This site's exposition
overflow in thanksgiving
Grace reaches more people, more people give thanks, and God receives the glory. John Wesley puts the chain briefly, that thanksgiving invites more grace. John Gill widens the words all this to take in everything Christ and His servants did and suffered for the church.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"That He which raised up Jesus, shall raise up also, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God." Again, he fills them with lofty thoughts, that they may not hold themselves indebted to men, I mean to the false Apostles. For the whole is of God Who willeth to bestow upon many, so that the grace may appear the greater. For your sakes, therefore, was the resurrection and all the other things. For He did not these things for the sake of one only, but of all.
God does not want anyone to be excluded from his gift. But because not everyone had received the word of faith, God's apostle, who knew God's will, was not afraid to suffer persecutions and perils as long as he could preach to everyone faithfully, so …
The Medieval Church1 voice
And well can I say this with certainty, because all things are for your benefit. For all things, the sufferings we endure, the graces we receive from God, are for your sake, namely, that you be instructed by our example. And this, therefore, so that …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For all things are for your sakes;.... This is a very large and comprehensive expression, and reaches to all the things of Christ, as well as of his ministers. The incarnation, obedience, death, and resurrection of Christ, are all for the sake of God's elect; and so the ministry of his apostles and servants, their gifts, graces, comforts, and experiences; and so likewise all their reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions; see 2Co 1:
Are for your sakes - For the profit of all that believe, as well as all that preach. That the overflowing grace - Which continues you alive both in soul and body. Might abound yet more through the thanksgiving of many - For thanksgiving invites more: abundant grace.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Whatever the burdens and troubles of good men may be, they have cause enough not to faint. Faith kept them from fainting: We have the same spirit of faith (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Note, The sufferings of Christ's ministers, as well as their preaching and conversation, are intended for the good of the church and the glory of God. The thoughts of the advantage their souls would reap by the sufferings of their bodies kept them from fainting: Though our outward man perish, our inward man is renewed day by day,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The Greek is susceptible also of this translation, "That grace, being made the greater (multiplied) on account of the thanksgiving of the greater number (for grace already received), may abound (abundantly redound) to," &c. Thus the Greek for "abound" has not to be taken in an active sense, but in its ordinary neuter sense, and so the other Greek words.
For all things are for your sakes - We proclaim all these truths and bear all these sufferings for your sakes, thinking all our sufferings nothing if we can gain converts to Christ, and build believers up on their most holy faith. That the abundant grace - Ἡ χαρις πλεονασασα· The abounding benefit - the copious outpouring of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, by which you have been favored and enriched, may, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God: i.e. that the gratitude of the multitudes which have been converted may keep pace with the blessings which they have received, and περισσευσῃ, abound, as these blessings have abounded.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For all things are for your sakes - All these things; these glorious hopes, and truths, and prospects; these self-denials of the apostles, and these provisions of the plan of mercy. For your sakes - On your account. They are designed to promote your salvation. They are not primarily for the welfare of those who engage in these toils and self-denials; but the whole arrangement and execution of the plan of salvation, and all the self-denial evinced by those who are engaged in making that plan known, are in order that you might be benefitted.
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γὰρ | gar | For | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| πάντα | panta | all things [are] | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | for the sake of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ὑμᾶς, | humas | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάρις | charis | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| πλεονάσασα | pleonasasa | having abounded | G4121 → | |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τῶν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλειόνων | pleionon | more and more | G4119 → | 45 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐχαριστίαν | eucharistian | thanksgiving | G2169 → | 15 times |
| περισσεύσῃ | perisseuse | may increase | G4052 → | 39 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δόξαν | doxan | glory | G1391 → | 165 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ. | theou | of God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
γὰρFor
garG1063 →1039 times
πάνταall things [are]
pantaG3956 →1235 times
δι᾽for the sake of
di᾽G1223 →664 times
ὑμᾶς,you,
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
χάριςgrace
charisG5485 →153 times
πλεονάσασαhaving abounded
pleonasasaG4121 →
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τῶν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
πλειόνωνmore and more
pleiononG4119 →45 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
εὐχαριστίανthanksgiving
eucharistianG2169 →15 times
περισσεύσῃmay increase
perisseuseG4052 →39 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
δόξανglory
doxanG1391 →165 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ.of God.
theouG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.
- Romans 5:3–5
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
2 Corinthians 1:11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.
it leads to
- Philippians 1:19
because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
- Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
- Colossians 4:3
as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
- Philippians 1:19
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 9 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.