2 Corinthians 9 · Verse 8

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 Corinthians 9:8, King James Version

2 Corinthians 9:8 in other translations

BSB	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.
WEB	And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
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:
YLT	and God is able all grace to cause to abound to you, that in every thing always all sufficiency having, ye may abound to every good work,
DARBY	But God is able to make every gracious gift abound towards you, that, having in every way always all-sufficiency, ye may abound to every good work:
BBE	And God is able to give you all grace in full measure; so that ever having enough of all things, you may be full of every good work:
Webster	And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

What does 2 Corinthians 9:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. all grace--even in external goods, and even while ye bestow on others [Bengel]. that--"in order that." God's gifts are bestowed on us, not that we may have them to ourselves, but that we may the more "abound in good works" to others. sufficiency--so as not to need the help of others, having yourselves from God "bread for your food" (2Co 9:10). in all things--Greek, "in everything." every good work--of charity to others, which will be "your seed sown" (2Co 9:10).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 8. And God is able, etc. 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 our 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 mean time there are multitudes who are made poor by the want 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, but it tendeth to poverty," Prov 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 wants. Let this maxim be borne in mind, that no one is usually made the poorer by being liberal.

All grace. All kinds of favour. He is able to impart to you those things which are needful for your welfare.

That ye always, etc. 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. He should expect that God will bless him in it; and the experience of the Christian world may be appealed to in proof that men are not made poor by liberality.

(c) "God is able" Php 4:19 (+) "grace" "every blessing"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 8 God is able to make all grace abound - We have already seen, 2Cor 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Money bestowed in charity, may to the carnal mind seem thrown away, but when given from proper principles, it is seed sown, from which a valuable increase may be expected. It should be given carefully. Works of charity, like other good works, should be done with thought and design. Due thought, as to our circumstances, and those we are about to relieve, will direct our gifts for charitable uses. Help should be given…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 →

2 Corinthians 9:8 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.

ΔυνατεῖDunateiis ableG1414

δὲdenowG1161

ὁho<the>G3588

θεὸςtheosGodG2316

πᾶσανpasanallG3956

χάρινcharingraceG5485

περισσεῦσαιperisseusaito make aboundG4052

εἰςeistoG1519

ὑμᾶς,humasyou,G4771

ἵναinaso thatG2443

ἐνeninG1722

παντὶpantievery [way]G3956

πάντοτεpantotealwaysG3842

πᾶσανpasanallG3956

αὐτάρκειανautarkeiansufficiencyG841

ἔχοντεςechonteshavingG2192

περισσεύητεperisseuēteyou may aboundG4052

εἰςeisinG1519

πᾶνpaneveryG3956

ἔργονergonworkG2041

ἀγαθὸνagathongoodG18

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

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 9:8

Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Philippians 4:18-19
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Malachi 3:10
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Haggai 2:8
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
Proverbs 28:27
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Psalms 84:11
For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Proverbs 3:9
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Titus 3:14
And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
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.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 9:11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

God.
2Ch 25:9; Ps 84:11; Pr 3:9; 10:22; 11:24; 28:27; Hag 2:8; Mal 3:10
Php 4:18
all grace.
8:19; 1Pe 4:10
always.
11; 1Ch 29:12-14
may.
8:2,7; Ac 9:36; 1Co 15:58; Eph 2:10; Col 1:10; 2Th 2:17; 2Ti 3:17
Tit 2:14; 3:8,14

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

Context

2 Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
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 Corinthians 9:9
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 9

2 Corinthians 9:8 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y poderoso es Dios para hacer que abunde en vosotros toda gracia; á fin de que, teniendo siempre en todas las cosas todo lo que basta, abundéis para toda buena obra:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais Dieu est puissant pour faire abonder toute grâce envers vous, afin qu’ayant toujours en toutes choses tout ce qui suffit, vous abondiez pour toute bonne œuvre,
German Elberfelder 1871	Gott aber ist mächtig, jede Gnade gegen euch überströmen zu lassen, auf daß ihr in allem, allezeit alle Genüge habend, überströmend seid zu jedem guten Werke;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Potens est autem Deus omnem gratiam abundare facere in vobis: ut in omnibus semper omnem sufficientiam habentes, abundetis in omne opus bonum,