2 Corinthians 9:8
in 2 Corinthians 9And 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:
KJV
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
⋯
This verse in 2 Corinthians 9
Commentary
10 notes on this verseGod is able to make all grace abound - We have already seen, 2Co 8:1 that the word χαρις, in the connection in which the apostle uses it in these chapters, signifies a charitable gift; here it certainly has the same meaning: God is able to give you, in his mercy, abundance of temporal good; that, having a sufficiency, ye may abound in every good work. This refers to the sowing plenteously: those who do so shall reap plenteously - they shall have an abundance of God’s blessings.
This site's exposition
God is able to make all grace abound
Having all that you need renders autarkeia, sufficiency, the word Paul uses of his own contentment at Philippians 4:11. Here it is promised as enough for every good work, resting on God’s ability.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul points out that the grace of God is present in them. Just as it has led their hearts to amend their faults and accept the truth of Christian teaching, so it will assist them, once they have begun, to abound in every good work.
"And may God, that is able, fulfill all grace towards you." By this prayer he takes out the way a thought which lay in wait against this liberality and which is now also an hinderance to many. For many persons are afraid to give alms, saying, 'Lest perchance I become poor,' 'lest perchance I need aid from others.' To do away with this fear then, he adds this prayer, saying, May "He make all grace abound towards you." Not merely fulfil, but "make it abound." And what is "make grace abound?" 'Fill you,' he means, 'with so great things, that ye may be able to abound in this liberality.' "That ye, having always all sufficiency in every thing, may abound to every good work." Observe, even in this his prayer, his great philosophy. He prays not for riches nor for abundance, but for all sufficiency. Nor is this all that is admirable in him; but that as he prayed not for superfluity, so he doth not press sore on them nor compel them to give of their want, condescending to their weakness; but asks for a "sufficiency," and shows at the same time that they ought not to abuse the gifts received from God. "That ye may abound," he saith, "to every good work." 'It is therefore,' saith he, 'I ask for this, that ye may bestow on others also.' Yet he did not say, 'bestow,' but 'abound.' For in carnal things he asks for a sufficiency for them, but in spiritual things for abundance even; not in almsgiving only, but in all other things also, "unto every good work."
The Medieval Church2 voices
With these words he refutes the reasoning that many have when they say: if I give too much, I am afraid of becoming poor myself. God, he says, is able to enrich you so much that you can abundantly accomplish every grace, that is, every …
Here he gives the reason for the three ways of giving. In regard to this he does two things. First, he assigns the reason taken on their part; secondly, the reason taken on God's part (v. 11). In regard to the first he does two …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
All grace - Every kind of blessing. That ye may abound to every good work - God gives us everything, that we may do good therewith, and so receive more blessings. All things in this life, even rewards, are, to the faithful, seeds in order to a future harvest.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
His righteousness, that is, his almsgiving, endureth for ever. The honour of it is lasting, the reward of it eternal, and he is still able to live comfortably himself and to give liberally to others. (3.) The apostle puts up a prayer to God in their behalf that they might be gainers, and not losers,
And God is able to make all grace abound towards you,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And God is able ... - Do not suppose that by giving liberally you will be impoverished and reduced to want. You should rather confide in God, who is able to furnish you abundantly with what is needful for the supply of your necessities. Few persons are ever reduced to poverty by liberality. Perhaps in the whole circle of his acquaintance it would be difficult for an individual to point out one who has been impoverished or made the poorer in this way. Our selfishness is generally a sufficient guard against this; but it is also to be added, that the divine blessing rests upon the liberal man, and that God keeps him from want. But in the meantime there are multitudes who are made poor by the lack of liberality. They are parsimonious in giving but they are extravagant in dress, and luxury, and in expenses for amusement or vice, and the consequence is poverty and want. “There is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty;” Pro 11:24. The divine blessing rests upon the liberal: and while every person should make a proper provision for his family, every one should give liberally, confiding in God that he will furnish the supplies for our future needs. Let this maxim be borne in mind, that no one is usually made the poorer by being liberal. All grace - All kinds of favor. He is able to impart to you those things which are needful for your welfare. That ye always ... - The sense is, “If you give liberally you are to expect that God will furnish you with the means, so that you will be able to abound more and more in it.” You are to expect that he will abundantly qualify you for doing good in every way, and that he will furnish you with all that is needful for this. The man who gives, therefore, should have faith in God. […]
The words behind it
21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Δυνατεῖ | dunatei | is able | G1414 → | |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| πᾶσαν | pasan | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| χάριν | charin | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| περισσεῦσαι | perisseusai | to make abound | G4052 → | 39 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ὑμᾶς, | humas | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| παντὶ | panti | every [way] | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| πάντοτε | pantote | always | G3842 → | 40 times |
| πᾶσαν | pasan | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| αὐτάρκειαν | autarkeian | sufficiency | G841 → | |
| ἔχοντες | echontes | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| περισσεύητε | perisseuete | you may abound | G4052 → | 39 times |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| πᾶν | pan | every | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ἔργον | ergon | work | G2041 → | 168 times |
| ἀγαθὸν | agathon | good | G18 → |
Δυνατεῖis able
dunateiG1414 →
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
πᾶσανall
pasanG3956 →1235 times
χάρινgrace
charinG5485 →153 times
περισσεῦσαιto make abound
perisseusaiG4052 →39 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ὑμᾶς,you,
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
παντὶevery [way]
pantiG3956 →1235 times
πάντοτεalways
pantoteG3842 →40 times
πᾶσανall
pasanG3956 →1235 times
αὐτάρκειανsufficiency
autarkeianG841 →
ἔχοντεςhaving
echontesG2192 →707 times
περισσεύητεyou may abound
perisseueteG4052 →39 times
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
πᾶνevery
panG3956 →1235 times
ἔργονwork
ergonG2041 →168 times
ἀγαθὸνgood
agathonG18 →
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
Ephesians 3:20Now 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,
it leads to
- Romans 4:21
being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.
- Jeremiah 32:27
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?
- Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- Ephesians 1:19
and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
- Romans 4:21
Through
Malachi 3:10Bring 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…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
- Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- Proverbs 3:9–10
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
- 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
About 2 Corinthians
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 PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 19 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.