2 Corinthians 8:8 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

2 Corinthians 8:8 kjv

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

2 Corinthians 8:8 nkjv

I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

2 Corinthians 8:8 niv

I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

2 Corinthians 8:8 esv

I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.

2 Corinthians 8:8 nlt

I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

2 Corinthians 8 8 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
2 Cor 8:7	But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all eagerness, and in the love from us to you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.	Connects abundance in spiritual gifts with generosity.
Gal 5:22-23	But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.	Love is a primary fruit of the Spirit, flowing from divine influence.
Eph 5:2	And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.	Christ's sacrificial love is the ultimate example for believers to follow.
Rom 8:32	He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?	The ultimate sacrifice of Christ underscores the certainty of God's other provisions.
1 John 4:9-10	In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be propitiation for our sins.	God's initiative in sending Jesus highlights the nature of His love.
John 3:16	For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.	The foundational verse on God's love expressed through the gift of His Son.
Rom 5:8	but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.	Reiteration of Christ's death as the primary evidence of God's love.
Phil 2:5-8	Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.	The humility and obedience of Christ exemplify God's self-giving love.
1 John 3:16	By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.	Directly connects knowing love with Christ's sacrifice.
Eph 3:17-19	so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.	Emphasizes the immeasurable depth and comprehensiveness of Christ's love.
Col 3:12	Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,	Believers are called to embody God's love as His beloved.
Heb 10:12-14	but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that moment until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.	The sufficiency and perfection of Christ's sacrifice speak to the completeness of God's love's expression.
1 Pet 1:18-19	knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.	The preciousness of Christ's blood highlights the value and cost of God's love.
1 John 4:11	Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.	A direct consequence and imperative arising from God's manifested love.
Titus 2:14	who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.	Christ's self-giving act is for redemption and purification, showing God's loving purpose.
Eph 3:8	To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,	The grace given to Paul further exemplifies God's expansive love and mercy.
2 Thes 2:16-17	Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.	Expresses hope and comfort as direct results of God's love and grace.
Phil 1:6	and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.	God's faithfulness in completing His work in believers is an outworking of His love.
Rom 11:33	Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!	Echoes the immeasurable and profound nature of God's actions, including His love.
1 Cor 13:4-7	Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it does not ...	Describes the characteristics of love, exemplified by Christ's actions.

2 Corinthians 8 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

2 Corinthians 8 8 Meaning

This verse is an affirmation of God's love. It states that in Christ, God demonstrates His genuine affection and commitment towards believers, and this demonstration is an unwavering proof of that love. It's not a tentative or conditional love, but a strong, confirmed reality provided through the person and work of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 8 8 Context

Second Corinthians chapter 8 deals with the collection for the needy saints in Jerusalem. Paul is encouraging the Corinthian believers to be generous in their giving, following the example of the Macedonian churches (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). In this specific section (verses 6-15), Paul is urging them to complete this "grace of giving." Verse 8 is presented as a rationale and motivation for their generosity. It frames their participation in the collection not as a new obligation but as an overflow of the love God has already demonstrably shown them through Christ. The overarching context is apostolic instruction regarding stewardship and sacrificial love within the body of Christ, especially across different church communities.

2 Corinthians 8 8 Word analysis

"but" (alla): A conjunction indicating contrast or emphasis, often introducing a new thought or providing a stronger assertion following a previous statement.
"I speak" (lego): Present tense verb, meaning "to say" or "to speak." It conveys an ongoing or authoritative pronouncement from Paul.
"not" (ouk): A negative particle.
"this" (touto): Demonstrative pronoun, referring to the subsequent statement or encouragement.
"commandment" (epitage): From epitatagmenos, meaning a command, an injunction, or an ordinance. It suggests an authoritative instruction.
"but" (de): Another conjunction, typically used to introduce a related or contrasting point, often weaker than alla.
"as" (hos): Conjunction of manner or comparison.
"a proof" (dokimon): From dokimos, meaning tested, tried, proved, acceptable, approved. It signifies genuine, genuine evidence, a criterion by which something is validated. It suggests the quality or sincerity of their giving will be evident.
"of the" (tes): Definite article, singular, feminine.
"sincerity" (eilikrineias): From eilikrines, meaning pure, clean, clear, unadulterated. It refers to genuineness, purity, sincerity, the absence of impurity or falseness.
"your" (umeateron): Possessive pronoun, second person plural.
"love" (agape): The highest form of love; selfless, unconditional, divine love.
"and" (kai): Conjunction connecting words or clauses.
"your" (umeateron): Possessive pronoun, second person plural.
"your love" (umeateron agape): This phrase emphasizes the genuine love the Corinthians have shown, which Paul is referencing.
"as a proof of the sincerity of your love": This subordinate clause is key. It suggests that their giving will serve as a verifiable manifestation of the reality of their love. It's not that love itself isn't real, but the act of giving makes that love demonstrably genuine, or tested and approved.

Word Group Analysis:

"speak not this a commandment": Paul clarifies that his instruction to give is not merely a legalistic dictate, but something deeper.
"but as a proof of the sincerity of your love": The core of the verse. The generosity they are demonstrating is presented as evidence, a tangible demonstration (dokimon) of the genuine (eilikrineias) love (agape) they possess. This connection highlights that true love isn't just a feeling, but manifests in actions that demonstrate its reality.

2 Corinthians 8 8 Bonus section

The Greek word dokimon ("proof," "tested," "approved") is significant here. It implies something that has undergone testing and has proven to be genuine and valuable. This links to themes in Scripture where trials and hardships (which test our faith and love) ultimately refine and confirm them. For example, Romans 5:3-5 states that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. In the same way, the act of generous giving, especially when it requires sacrifice, tests the sincerity of their love and proves it to be genuine. It shows that their love is not superficial or based on convenience but is a deeply rooted and active force. This connects to God's own testing of Abraham in Genesis 22, where Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac proved his ultimate devotion.

2 Corinthians 8 8 Commentary

Paul uses their impending generous act as a vital confirmation of the reality of their love for God and one another. This isn't about commanding charity as a duty alone, but as an outworking of authentic affection. The "proof" refers to their contribution serving as a tested and approved evidence of the genuineness of their love. This encourages believers that their outward actions, especially in sacrifice and generosity, are important indicators of their inner spiritual state and their true love. This practice serves to both affirm their faith to themselves and to witness to the world. It also mirrors the ultimate demonstration of God's love for humanity through Christ's sacrifice.

Practical application: When we are generous with our resources, time, or talents, it demonstrates the depth of our love for God and our neighbor, moving beyond mere words.
Example: A congregation pooling resources to support a sister church facing hardship, not out of obligation, but out of genuine concern and love, is exhibiting the kind of "tested sincerity" Paul refers to.