2 Corinthians 8:6
in 2 Corinthians 8So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.
KJV
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 8
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThat we desired Titus - Titus had probably laid the plan of this contribution when he was before at Corinth, according to the direction given by the apostle, 1Co 16:1, etc. The same grace - Liberality. See the note on 2Co 8:1.
This site's exposition
we desired Titus
on 2 Corinthians 8:6-8
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also: Titus had started the collection at Corinth a year before, and Paul sends him back to complete it, grace here plainly meaning the work of giving itself. Verse 7 ranks the grace among the church's other abundances, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, see that ye abound in this grace also, generosity listed with the gifts the Corinthians prized, and the bench notes the gentle irony of asking a church rich in utterance to become rich in giving. I speak not by commandment: verse 8 states the method of the whole section, no levy, but the forwardness of others and the proving of love's sincerity, and the exposition keeps Paul's refusal to command as part of the doctrine, since commanded giving would forfeit the very grace he seeks.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also." And what connexion is there here? Much; and closely bearing on what went before. 'For because we saw them vehement,' he says, 'and fervent in all things, in temptations, in alms giving, in their love toward us, in the purity otherwise of their life: in order that ye too might be made their equals, we sent Titus.' Howbeit he did not say this, though he implied it. Behold excessiveness of love. 'For though intreated and desired by them,' he says, 'we were anxious about your state, lest by any means ye should come short of them. Wherefore also we sent Titus, that by this also being stirred up and put in mind, ye might emulate the Macedonians.' For Titus happened to be there when this Epistle was writing. Yet he shows that he had made a beginning in this matter before Paul's exhortation; "that as he had made a beginning before," he says. Wherefore also he bestows great praise on him; for instance, in the beginning [of the Epistle]; "Because I found not Titus my brother, I had no relief for my spirit:" and here all those things which he has said, and this too itself. For this also is no light praise, the having begun before even: for this evinces a warm and fervent spirit. Wherefore also he sent him, infusing amongst them in this also a very great incentive unto giving, the presence of Titus.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Having given the example of the Macedonians, he then shows how he was moved by this example, when he says, "Accordingly we have urged Titus." As if to say: we were so moved by this display of generosity by the Macedonians, that we desired Titus …
They, he says, gave themselves over to almsgiving to such a degree that I, seeing their deed, took care for you, so that you would not be worse than them, and for this reason asked Titus to go to you, which he himself also "began," …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. The apostle takes occasion from the good example of the churches of Macedonia, that is, of Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and others in the region of Macedonia, to exhort the Corinthians and the Christians in Achaia to the good work of charity.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Insomuch that we desired Titus,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Insomuch - The sense of this passage seems to be this, “We were encouraged by this unexpected success among the Macedonians. We were surprised at the extent of their liberality. And encouraged by this, we requested Titus to go among you and finish the collection which you had proposed and which you had begun. Lest you should be outstripped in liberality by the comparatively poor Macedonian Christians, we were anxious that you should perform what you had promised and contemplated, and we employed Titus, therefore, that he might go at once and finish the collection among you.” The same grace also - Margin, “Gift;” see the note on 2Co 8:1. The word refers to the contribution which he wished to be made.
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰς | eis | Accordingly | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| παρακαλέσαι | parakalesai | exhorting | G3870 → | 108 times |
| ἡμᾶς | hemas | we | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| Τίτον, | titon | Titus, | G5103 → | 13 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| προενήρξατο | proenerxato | he had begun | G4278 → | |
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπιτελέσῃ | epitelese | he may complete | G2005 → | 10 times |
| εἰς | eis | with | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καὶ | kai | as well | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάριν | charin | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| ταύτην. | tauten | this. | G3778 → | 1381 times |
εἰςAccordingly
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
παρακαλέσαιexhorting
parakalesaiG3870 →108 times
ἡμᾶςwe
hemasG3165 →1936 times
Τίτον,Titus,
titonG5103 →13 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
προενήρξατοhe had begun
proenerxatoG4278 →
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπιτελέσῃhe may complete
epiteleseG2005 →10 times
εἰςwith
eisG1519 →1755 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
καὶas well
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
χάρινgrace
charinG5485 →153 times
ταύτην.this.
tautenG3778 →1381 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
2 Corinthians 8:4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
it leads to
- Acts 24:17
After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
- Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- 2 Corinthians 9:1
Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.
- Hebrews 6:10
For 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.
- 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,
- Acts 24:17
Through
2 Corinthians 8:19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:3–4
Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
- 1 Corinthians 16:3–4
Through
2 Corinthians 9:5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the bountiful gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.
it leads to
- Genesis 33:11
Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
- 1 Samuel 25:27
Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you.
- Genesis 33:11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Corinthians
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 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); Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; 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.