2 Corinthians 8:11
in 2 Corinthians 8Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
KJV
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 8
Commentary
11 notes on this verseAnd because you are eager to give, therefore, now complete in deed what you had in your intention; otherwise that willingness is in vain: "Let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn. 3:18); "And I am sure …
This site's exposition
this is my opinion
on 2 Corinthians 8:10-12
This is my opinion about what is helpful for you marks counsel to a church whose desire had run a year ahead of its giving. Paul asks them to finish the work, since readiness that never becomes a gift helps no saint in Jerusalem.
This site's exposition
Now finish the work
Albert Barnes notes that a year had passed and the need in Jerusalem had not. Chrysostom wants the work to go past readiness to its reward. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown add that the godly should finish as eagerly as the worldly finish their own plans.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul is saying that the Corinthians should give as much as they are willing and able to give. That way their conscience would become clear and not be clouded by pretense, pleasing man but not God.
He said not, ye have done it, but, ye have put a completion to it, "That as there was the readiness to will, so also [there may be] the completion also out of your ability." That this good work halt not at readiness but receive also the reward that follows upon deeds.
The Medieval Church1 voice
He persuades them now not by the zeal of others, but by their own disposition, saying: you voluntarily reached the same point and not only laid the beginning of the doing, but also of the willing, that is, doing of your own good will, without …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
What else did their good purposes and good beginnings signify? Good purposes, indeed, are good things; they are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to behold, and give hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing, without performances.
Now therefore perform the doing of it,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
As there was a readiness to will - Now accomplish the thing, and be not satisfied with having begun it. Do not suppose that the intention was sufficient, or that you are now released from the obligation. A year indeed has elapsed; but the necessity of the aid for the poor has not ceased. The sentiment here is, that if we have felt it our duty to aid in a cause of benevolence, and have commenced it, and have then been interrupted in executing our purpose, we should seize the first favorable opportunity to accomplish what we had designed.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
perform--"complete the doing also" (see on 2Co 8:10). a readiness to will--Greek, "the readiness of will"; referring to 2Co 8:10, where the Greek for "to be forward," ought to be translated as here, "to will." performance--"completion" [ALFORD], The godly should show the same zeal to finish, as well as to begin well, which the worldly exhibit in their undertakings (Jer 44:25).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A readiness to will, so there may be a performance - Ye have willed and purposed this; now perform it. Out of that which ye have - Give as God has enabled you; and give as God has disposed you. He requires each man to do as he can; and accepts the will where the means are wanting to perform the deed.
The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| νυνὶ | nuni | Now | G3570 → | |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ποιῆσαι | poiesai | doing | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἐπιτελέσατε, | epitelesate | do complete | G2005 → | 10 times |
| ὅπως | hopos | so that | G3704 → | |
| καθάπερ | kathaper | just as | G2509 → | 13 times |
| ἡ | he | [there was] the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προθυμία | prothumia | readiness | G4288 → | 5 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θέλειν | thelein | to will | G2309 → | 208 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐπιτελέσαι | epitelesai | to complete | G2005 → | 10 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τοῦ | tou | that which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔχειν. | echein | [you] having. | G2192 → | 707 times |
νυνὶNow
nuniG3570 →
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ποιῆσαιdoing
poiesaiG4160 →569 times
ἐπιτελέσατε,do complete
epitelesateG2005 →10 times
ὅπωςso that
hoposG3704 →
καθάπερjust as
kathaperG2509 →13 times
ἡ[there was] the
heG3588 →19766 times
προθυμίαreadiness
prothumiaG4288 →5 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
θέλεινto will
theleinG2309 →208 times
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἐπιτελέσαιto complete
epitelesaiG2005 →10 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
τοῦthat which
touG3588 →19766 times
ἔχειν.[you] having.
echeinG2192 →707 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 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
2 Corinthians 9:2For 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…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 8:10
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.
- 2 Corinthians 8:8
I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.
- 2 Corinthians 8:24
In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.
- 1 Corinthians 16:15
You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers,
- Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
- 2 Corinthians 8:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
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About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 17 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.