2 Corinthians 8:4
in 2 Corinthians 8they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:
KJV
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
⋯
This verse in 2 Corinthians 8
Commentary
10 notes on this versePraying us with much entreaty - We had not to solicit them to this great act of kindness; they even entreated us to accept their bounty, and to take on ourselves the administration or application of it to the wants of the poor in Judea.
This site's exposition
the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia
on 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
We do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: the collection section opens by calling giving charis, grace, the word that will govern both chapters, and the exhibit is Macedonia, where a great trial of affliction and deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality, joy and poverty compounding into generosity by an arithmetic only grace explains. To their power, and beyond their power, willing of themselves, praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift: the poorest churches begged for the privilege of giving. Verse 5 gives the order that makes it possible, first gave their own selves to the Lord: the bench states the standing principle, the gift follows the giver, and no theology of giving that starts with money instead of self has read this paragraph.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Because the Macedonians were offering more than they could afford, Paul was inclined to refuse their contribution, fearing that hardship would later cause them to reconsider their good deed. But because they showed themselves to be of such character that they stood firm, with a …
"With much intreaty." Lo! yet a third and a fourth. "Praying us." Lo! even a fifth. And when they were in affliction and in poverty. Here are a sixth and seventh. And they gave with excessiveness. Then since this is what he most of all wishes to provide for in the Corinthians' case, namely, the giving deliberately, he dwells especially upon it, saying, "with much intreaty," and "praying us." 'We prayed not them, but they us.' Pray us what? "That the grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints." Seest thou how he again exalts the deed, calling it by venerable names. For since they were ambitious of spiritual gifts, he calls it by the name grace that they might eagerly pursue it; and again by that of "fellowship," that they might learn that they receive, not give only. 'This therefore they intreated us,' he says, 'that we would take upon us such a ministry.'
The Medieval Church2 voices
He explains what was said above and says: "according to their power," even "beyond their power"; for therein consists the abundance of simplicity, that is, in that which is "beyond their power." Moreover, they were not exhorted by us, but were "willing of themselves." And …
Thus does he commend their generosity as to the quantity given; but he commends it as to their will to give, when he says, "of their own free will": "Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me an offering; from every man …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Note, How cautious ministers should be, especially in money-matters, not to give occasion to those who seek occasion to speak reproachfully! (4.) Their charity was founded in true piety, and this was the great commendation of it.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Praying us with much entreaty,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
that we would receive--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. Translate therefore, "Beseeching of us . . . the grace and fellowship of (that is, to grant them the favor of sharing in) the ministering unto the saints." The Macedonian contributions must have been from Philippi, because Philippi was the only church that contributed to Paul's support (Php 4:10, 15, 16).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Praying us with much entreaty - Earnestly entreating me to receive the contribution and convey it to the poor and afflicted saints in Judea. And take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints - Greek, “that we would take the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.” They asked of us to take part in the labor of conveying it to Jerusalem. The occasion of this distress which made the collection for the saints of Judea necessary, was probably the famine which was predicted by Agabus, and which occurred in the time of Claudius Caesar; see note on Act 11:28. Barnabas was associated with Paul in conveying the contribution to Jerusalem; Act 6:30. Paul was unwilling to do it unless they particularly desired it, and he seems to have insisted that some person should be associated with him; 2Co 8:20; 1Co 16:3-4.
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μετὰ | meta | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| πολλῆς | polles | much | G4183 → | 367 times |
| παρακλήσεως | parakleseos | entreaty | G3874 → | 29 times |
| δεόμενοι | deomenoi | imploring | G1189 → | 22 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| τὴν | ten | for the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάριν | charin | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κοινωνίαν | koinonian | fellowship | G2842 → | 18 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διακονίας | diakonias | service | G1248 → | 34 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εἰς | eis | among | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίους | hagious | saints | G40 → | 220 times |
μετὰwith
metaG3326 →461 times
πολλῆςmuch
pollesG4183 →367 times
παρακλήσεωςentreaty
parakleseosG3874 →29 times
δεόμενοιimploring
deomenoiG1189 →22 times
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
τὴνfor the
tenG3588 →19766 times
χάρινgrace
charinG5485 →153 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
κοινωνίανfellowship
koinonianG2842 →18 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
διακονίαςservice
diakoniasG1248 →34 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
εἰςamong
eisG1519 →1755 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίουςsaints
hagiousG40 →220 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
Galatians 6:10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
- Titus 3:8
This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable…
- Matthew 25:40
And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- Hebrews 13:16
Through
Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
it leads to
- Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
- Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Matthew 10:42
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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 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 16 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.