2 Corinthians — Chapter 8
The generosity of Macedonia
8:1
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God given among the Churches of Macedonia:
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Macedonian generosity is God's grace and an example for others. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 8:1].
8:2
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.
Textual & reception notes
Generosity renders haplotēs in the context of giving; its broader sense is simplicity or singleness of purpose.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Severe affliction and poverty do not prevent abundant generosity. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 8:2].
8:3
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For according to their ability, I testify, and beyond their ability, of their own choice,
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Their voluntary generosity exceeds what their resources would suggest. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 8:3].
8:4
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
they begged us with much urging for the grace and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints.
Textual & reception notes
Grace here is the favor of participating in the service, not a newly specified amount of money. The Greek sentence carries into their giving themselves in 8:5.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: They beg to participate in the fellowship of service. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 8:4].
8:5
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
And not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God,
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Their gifts accompany the prior offering of themselves to God. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 8:5].
8:6
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
so that we urged Titus that, just as he had begun beforehand, he should also complete this grace among you.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Titus is to complete the generous work already begun. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 8:6].
8:7
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But just as you abound in everything—in faith and word and knowledge and all diligence and the love from us in you—see that you abound also in this grace.
Textual & reception notes
Text [G]: The accessed phrase is the love from us in you, ex hēmōn en hymin. It is retained without reversing it to your love for us; love kindled among you through us is an interpretation of its sense.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Giving should flourish alongside the community's other spiritual gifts. [Homily 17, on 2 Corinthians 8:7].
Willing completion and equality
8:8
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
I do not speak as a command, but through the diligence of others I also test the genuineness of your love.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The appeal tests love without making the gift compulsory. [Homily 17, on 2 Corinthians 8:8].
8:9
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: though He was rich, He became poor for your sake, so that you might become rich through His poverty.
Textual & reception notes
Rich, poor, and poverty are the actual terms of the Christological comparison; the translation does not assign a monetary quantity to Christ or promise private wealth.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Christ's voluntary poverty enriches believers through salvation. [Homily 17, on 2 Corinthians 8:9].
8:10
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
And in this I give an opinion, for this is beneficial for you, who began beforehand since last year not only to do it but also to desire it.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Completion benefits the givers who had already shown willingness. [Homily 17, on 2 Corinthians 8:10].
8:11
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But now complete the doing also, so that, just as there was the readiness to desire, there may also be the completion out of what you have.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: A willing beginning needs to become completed action. [Homily 17, on 2 Corinthians 8:11].
8:12
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The gift is assessed according to the giver's actual means. [Homily 17, on 2 Corinthians 8:12].
8:13
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For it is not that there should be relief for others and affliction for you, but on the basis of equality:
Textual & reception notes
Equality renders isotēs, also fairness, developed through mutual abundance and lack in the next verse.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul accommodates their weakness instead of demanding an oppressive burden. [Homily 17, on 2 Corinthians 8:13].
8:14
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
at the present time your abundance is for their lack, so that their abundance may also be for your lack, so that there may be equality.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Material sharing participates in an exchange that includes spiritual abundance. [Homily 17, on 2 Corinthians 8:14].
8:15
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
As it is written, “The one with much had no excess, and the one with little had no shortage.”
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The manna example discourages selfish accumulation and commends equality. [Homily 17, on 2 Corinthians 8:15].
Trusted companions for the gift
8:16
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But thanks be to God, who puts the same diligence for you in Titus’ heart,
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Titus's earnest concern is a gift for which God deserves thanks. [Homily 18, on 2 Corinthians 8:16].
8:17
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
for he accepted the appeal, and being still more diligent, he went out to you of his own choice.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Titus combines divine grace with personal eagerness. [Homily 18, on 2 Corinthians 8:17].
8:18
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
And we sent with him the brother whose praise in the good news is throughout all the Churches.
Textual & reception notes
The brother is unnamed; no later traditional identification is inserted into the translation.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: He reports differing identifications of the unnamed brother: Luke or Barnabas. [Homily 18, on 2 Corinthians 8:18].
8:19
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
And not only that, but he was also appointed by the Churches as our traveling companion with this grace ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord Himself and our readiness.
Textual & reception notes
Appointed renders cheirotoneō; the word can refer to selection by raised hands, but a voting procedure is not spelled out in this verse.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: He favors Barnabas, connecting the brother with the churches' appointment. [Homily 18, on 2 Corinthians 8:19].
8:20
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
We take this precaution so that no one may blame us concerning this abundance being ministered by us,
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Trustworthy companions protect the collection from grounds for suspicion. [Homily 18, on 2 Corinthians 8:20].
8:21
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
for we take thought for honorable things not only before the Lord but also before people.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Financial conduct must withstand scrutiny before both God and people. [Homily 18, on 2 Corinthians 8:21].
8:22
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
And we sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The further envoy brings tested diligence and confidence in the Corinthians. [Homily 18, on 2 Corinthians 8:22].
8:23
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker toward you; as for our brothers, they are envoys of Churches, a glory of Christ.
Textual & reception notes
Envoys renders apostoloi in the explicit relation to the Churches that send them; the same noun is apostle in Paul’s commission at 1:1.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul commends Titus's partnership and the other envoys' honored service. [Homily 18, on 2 Corinthians 8:23].
8:24
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Therefore show toward them the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf, before the face of the Churches.
Textual & reception notes
Show gives the participial clause its exhortatory English force. Before the face preserves the public-witness image.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Honoring the envoys also honors the churches that sent them. [Homily 18, on 2 Corinthians 8:24].