2 Corinthians 8 · Verse 7

2 Corinthians 8:7

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.
2 Corinthians 8:7, King James Version

2 Corinthians 8:7 in other translations

BSBBut 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.
WEBBut as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.
ASVBut 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.
YLTbut even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound;
DARBYbut even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.
BBEAnd that as you are full of every good thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way.
WebsterTherefore, 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.

What does 2 Corinthians 8:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. 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).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing. 1Cor 1:6. 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.

And utterance. In the ability to instruct others; perhaps referring to their power of speaking foreign languages, 1Cor 14.

And knowledge. The knowledge of God, and of his truth.

And in all diligence. Diligence or readiness in the discharge of every duty. Of this, Paul had full evidence in their readiness to comply with his commands in the case of discipline to which so frequent reference is made in this epistle.

And in your love to us. Manifested by the readiness with which you received our commands. See 2Cor 7:4,6,7,11,16. See that ye abound in this grace also. The idea here is, that eminence in spiritual endowments of any kind, Or in any of the traits of the Christian character, should lead to great benevolence, and that the character is not complete unless benevolence be manifested toward every good object that may be presented.

(a) "abound" 1Cor 1:5 (++) "grace" "liberality"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 As ye abound in every thing - See the note on 1Cor 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:7-9
Faith is the root; and as without faith it is not possible to please God, He 11:6, so those who abound in faith, will abound in other graces and good works also; and this will work and show itself by love. Great talkers are not always the best doers; but these Corinthians were diligent to do, as well as to know and talk well. To all these good things the apostle desires them to add this grace also, to abound in charity to the poor. The best arguments for Christian duties, are drawn from the grace and love of Christ. Though he was rich, as being God, equal in power and glory with the Father, yet he not only became man for us, but became poor also. At length he emptied himself, as it were, to ransom their souls by his sacrifice on the cross. From what riches, blessed Lord, to what poverty didst thou descend for our sakes! and to what riches hast thou advanced us through thy poverty! It is our happiness to be wholly at thy disposal.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Corinthians 8:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽ButG235
ὥσπερhōspereven asG5618
ἐνeninG1722
παντὶpantievery [way]G3956
περισσεύετε,perisseueteyou abound,G4052
πίστειpisteiin faithG4102
καὶkaiandG2532
λόγῳlogōin speechG3056
καὶkaiandG2532
γνώσειgnōseiin knowledgeG1108
καὶkaiandG2532
πάσῃpasēin allG3956
σπουδῇspoudēaearnestnessG4710
καὶkaiandG2532
τῇtēain theG3588
ἐξexfromG1537
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
ἐνeninG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
ἀγάπῃ,agapēlove,G26
ἵναinathatG2443
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἐνeninG1722
ταύτῃtautēthisG3778
τῇtēa<the>G3588
χάριτιcharitigraceG5485
περισσεύητε.perisseuēteyou may abound.G4052

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 8:7

  • 2 Corinthians 9:8

    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:

  • 2 Peter 1:5-8

    And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3

    We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

  • Philippians 1:9

    And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

  • 1 Corinthians 13:2

    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:5

    That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

  • 1 Corinthians 8:1-2

    Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:6

    Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:7

    For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

  • 2 Timothy 2:1

    Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

  • 2 Peter 3:18

    But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

  • Romans 15:14

    And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as.
Ro 15:14; 1Co 1:5; 4:7; 12:13; 14:12; Re 3:17
faith.
1Co 13:2
knowledge.
1Co 8:1,2; 13:8
in your.
7:7
see.
9:8; Php 1:9,11; 1Th 4:9,10; 2Th 1:3; 1Pe 1:22; 2Pe 1:5-8
this.
6; 9:14; Eph 4:29; 2Ti 2:1; Heb 12:28; 2Pe 3:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 8:6

    Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:7

    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.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:8

    I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 8:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por tanto, como en todo abundáis, en fe, y en palabra, y en ciencia, y en toda solicitud, y en vuestro amor para con nosotros, que también abundéis en esta gracia.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais comme vous abondez en toutes choses: en foi, et en parole, et en connaissance, et en toute diligence, et dans votre amour envers nous, – que vous abondiez aussi dans cette grâce.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber so wie ihr in allem überströmend seid: in Glauben und Wort und Erkenntnis und allem Fleiß und in eurer Liebe zu uns, daß ihr auch in dieser Gnade überströmend sein möget.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sed sicut in omnibus abundatis fide, et sermone, et scientia, et omni sollicitudine, insuper et caritate vestra in nos, ut et in hac gratia abundetis.