2 Corinthians 8:2 BSB

2 Corinthians 8:2

In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

KJV

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

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Commentary

4 voices

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Corinthians (1107)

That is, having many afflictions, they became more skilled through patience; they did not fall, but rather rejoiced, not simply rejoiced, but rejoiced abundantly.

The record, by era

The Reformation1 voice

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

By the term joy he means that spiritual consolation by which believers are sustained under their afflictions; for the wicked either delude themselves with empty consolations, by avoiding a perception of the evil, and drawing off the mind to rambling thoughts, or else they wholly give way to grief, and allow themselves to be overwhelmed with it.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

It was a time of great affliction with them, as may be seen, Acts xviii. The Christians in these parts met with ill treatment, which had reduced them to deep poverty; yet, as they had abundance of joy in the midst of tribulation, they abounded in their liberality; they gave out of a little, trusting in God to provide for them, and make it up to them.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

In a great trial of affliction - The sense of this verse is the following: The Macedonians, though both poor and persecuted, rejoiced exceedingly that an opportunity was afforded them of doing good to their more impoverished and more persecuted brethren. We can scarcely ever speak of poverty and affliction in an absolute sense; they are only comparative. Even the poor are called to relieve those who are poorer than themselves; and the afflicted, to comfort those who are more afflicted than they are.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

23 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
πολλῇ	pollēa	much	G4183 →
δοκιμῇ	dokimēa	proof	G1382 →
θλίψεως	thlipseōs	of tribulation	G2347 →
ἡ	hē	the	G3588 →
περισσεία	perisseia	excess	G4050 →
τῆς	tēs	of the	G3588 →
χαρᾶς	charas	joy	G5479 →
αὐτῶν	autōn	of them	G846 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
ἡ	hē	<the>	G3588 →
κατὰ	kata	of	G2596 →
βάθους	bathous	deep	G899 →
πτωχεία	ptōcheia	poverty	G4432 →
αὐτῶν	autōn	of them	G846 →
ἐπερίσσευσεν	eperisseusen	abounded	G4052 →
εἰς	eis	into	G1519 →
τὸ	to	the	G3588 →
πλοῦτος	ploutos	riches	G4149 →
τῆς	tēs	of the	G3588 →
ἁπλότητος	haplotētos	generosity	G572 →
αὐτῶν,	autōn	of them,	G846 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Proverbs 11:25
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
leads to
- Matthew 5:7
  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6–9
  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
- Isaiah 58:7–11
  Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own…
- Matthew 25:34–35
  Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Through
James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
leads to
- Matthew 5:3
  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Revelation 2:9
  I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Luke 6:20
  Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Through
2 Corinthians 6:10
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
  For 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.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.

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About 2 Corinthians

The Crown of Thorns — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

2 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 8 →The featured study →

Continue: 2 Corinthians 8 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 2 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 2 Corinthians