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2 Corinthians 8:7

in 2 Corinthians 8

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

KJV

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

This verse in 2 Corinthians 8

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

He exhorts with praises and says: since you have all other things in abundance, then in this matter as well — not only give alms, but give them in abundance; which means either that they should surpass the Macedonians, or simply that they should be …

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 Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily 17 on 2 Corinthians · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

See again his exhortation accompanied with commendations, greater commendations. And he said not, 'that ye give,' but "that ye abound; in faith," namely, of the gifts, and "in utterance," the word of wisdom, and "knowledge," namely, of the doctrines, and "in all earnestness," to the attaining of all other virtue. "And in your love," that, namely of which I have before spoken, of which I have also made proof. "That ye may abound in this grace also." Seest thou that for this reason it was that he began by those praises, that advancing forward he might draw them on to the same diligence in these things also.

A commentator

Ambrosiaster

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 384.

proposed

He exhorts them to boast about these things among the other churches. For this is the proof of their improvement, if they are ready for the ministry of the saints.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Then when he says, "Now as you excel in everything," he urges them to be influenced by this example. Here he does two things. First, he urges them to be prompted by the example of the Macedonians to give alms; secondly, he removes a suspicion …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Observe here, What it was that the Corinthians abounded in. Faith is mentioned first, for that is the root; and, as without faith it is impossible to please God ( Heb. xi. 6 ), so those who abound in faith will abound in other graces and good works also; and this will work and show itself by love.
Therefore as ye abound in everything,....
3 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Therefore as ye abound in everything - see the note, 1Co 1:5. Paul never hesitated to commend Christians where it could be done with truth; and the fact that they were eminent in some of the Christian duties and graces, he makes the ground of the exhortation that they would abound in all. From those who had so many eminent characteristics of true religion he had a right to expect much; and he therefore exhorts them to manifest a symmetry of Christian character. In faith - In the full belief of the truth and obligation of the gospel.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

in faith-- (2Co 1:24). utterance--(See on 1Co 1:5). Not as ALFORD, "doctrine" or "word." knowledge-- (1Co 8:1). diligence--in everything that is good. your love to us--literally, "love from you (that is, on your part) in us" (that is, which has us for its object; which is felt in the case of us).

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

As ye abound in every thing - See the note on 1Co 1:5. In faith, crediting the whole testimony of God; in utterance, λογῳ, in doctrine, knowing what to teach: knowledge of God’s will, and prudence to direct you in teaching and doing it; in diligence, to amend all that is wrong among you, and to do what is right; and in love to us, whom now ye prize as the apostles of the Lord, and your pastors in him. Abound in this grace also - Be as eminent for your charitable disposition as ye are for your faith, doctrine, knowledge, diligence, and love.

The words behind it

27 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 9:8

    And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 3:20

      Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

    • Philippians 4:18–19

      I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

    • Proverbs 10:22

      The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.

    • Malachi 3:10

      Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of…

    • Haggai 2:8

      The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of Hosts.

  • Through

    Philippians 1:9

    And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

    it leads to

    • 1 Thessalonians 3:12

      And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,

    • Colossians 1:9

      For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and…

    • 2 Peter 1:5–6

      For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Corinthians

The Crown of Thorns, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Crown of Thorns, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
This page draws on 11 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 2 Corinthians; Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; 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.