2 Corinthians 8 9

2 Corinthians 8:9 kjv

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 nkjv

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 niv

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 esv

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 nlt

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

2 Corinthians 8 verses

2 Corinthians 8 9 Meaning

The verse proclaims a foundational truth of the Christian faith: the selfless act of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though inherently possessing infinite divine wealth and glory as God, He deliberately divested Himself of His exalted state, embracing a life of destitution, suffering, and humiliation. His ultimate purpose in this profound act of condescension was for the benefit of humanity—to enable those who were spiritually impoverished and bankrupt to become rich, not in material wealth, but in a wealth of divine, spiritual blessings and eternal life through His sacrifice. It is the epitome of divine grace demonstrated through self-sacrificial love.

2 Corinthians 8 9 Context

This verse is at the heart of Paul's exhortation to the Corinthian church concerning their participation in the collection for the impoverished saints in Jerusalem (the "saints"). Paul's goal is not merely to solicit funds but to inspire genuine, grace-driven generosity. In chapter 8, he first holds up the Macedonian churches as a shining example of overflowing joy and profound generosity despite their extreme poverty (2 Cor 8:1-5). Their giving was a response to God's grace. Immediately following this example, Paul shifts to the ultimate model of sacrificial giving: Jesus Christ Himself. Verse 9 serves as the theological foundation and motivation for the Corinthians' generosity, urging them to complete their promised contribution not out of obligation, but out of the same selfless spirit embodied by their Lord. Historically, Corinth was a wealthy commercial hub, and while the church had some prominent members, Paul challenges them to prioritize spiritual giving over worldly gain, aligning their actions with the divine example.

2 Corinthians 8 9 Word analysis

• For you know: Paul assumes their awareness of this central Christian doctrine, presenting it not as new information, but as a foundational truth that should guide their actions. This phrase grounds his appeal in their existing theological understanding.
• the grace (χάρις - charis): Denotes unmerited favor, divine enablement, and a spiritual gift. Here, it signifies the loving, undeserved act of God through Christ. It's the initiating, empowering love that is both the source and the pattern for Christian giving.
• of our Lord (Κυρίου - Kyriou): Denotes supreme authority, ownership, and deity. Acknowledges Jesus's divine sovereignty.
• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The human name, signifying "Yahweh saves" or "God saves." Emphasizes His historical, incarnate person.
• Christ (Χριστοῦ - Christou): The title, meaning "Anointed One" or "Messiah." Points to His divine office and saving work. Together, "Lord Jesus Christ" encompasses His full identity and saving mission.
• that though he was rich (ὅτι πλούσιος ὤν - hoti plousios ōn): Refers to Christ's pre-existent state of absolute divine glory, power, majesty, and unsearchable riches as God alongside the Father before His incarnation. This wealth is not merely material but encompasses all divine attributes.
• yet for your sakes (δι᾽ ὑμᾶς - di' hymas): Emphasizes the purpose and beneficiary of His action. It was a selfless, substitutionary act for the benefit of humanity—specifically for believers (the Corinthians and, by extension, all who believe).
• he became poor (ἐπτώχευσεν - eptōcheusen): This is a powerful and specific Greek term (ptōcheuō) meaning to become a beggar, to be utterly destitute, to reduce oneself to extreme poverty. It describes not just lacking wealth but becoming dependent and living in utter want. This refers to Christ's incarnation, His humbling Himself by emptying Himself of divine prerogatives (though not His divine nature), living without possessions, identifying with human weakness and sinfulness, culminating in His death, and experiencing separation from the Father on the cross (2 Cor 5:21).
• so that you through his poverty (ἵνα ὑμεῖς τῇ ἐκείνου πτωχείᾳ - hina humeis tē ekeinou ptōcheia): Explains the result or goal. His "poverty" (πτωχεία - ptōcheia, the state of absolute destitution) is the means by which our transformation occurs. There's a direct, causal link between His suffering/humiliation and our gain.
• might become rich (πλουτήσητε - ploutēsēte): This richness is not material but spiritual. It signifies receiving eternal life, righteousness, forgiveness, adoption as children of God, inheritance in Christ, reconciliation with God, peace, and every spiritual blessing. It's a wealth that truly lasts and provides eternal fulfillment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ": This phrase establishes the theological grounding. It appeals to shared Christian understanding, framing Christ's action as an ultimate expression of divine charis (grace), linking the historical Jesus (humanity) with the divine Christ (Messiah) and Lord (deity). This grace is the wellspring for all Christian giving.
• "that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor": This is the heart of the "divine exchange." "Though he was rich" refers to Christ's divine pre-existence, holding all glory and power. "Became poor" signifies His condescension through the incarnation, His life of destitution, and ultimately His death on the cross, taking upon Himself humanity's spiritual poverty. The crucial phrase "for your sakes" underscores the substitutionary and vicarious nature of His act – it was entirely for humanity's benefit, not His own.
• "so that you through his poverty might become rich": This highlights the transformational outcome. Christ's complete identification with human poverty (spiritual, physical, social) enables believers to inherit true, enduring spiritual riches: salvation, adoption, forgiveness, eternal life, righteousness, and access to God. It delineates a profound spiritual transfer and reversal of human fortune.

2 Corinthians 8 9 Bonus section

This verse is often cited as the bedrock principle for understanding the nature of sacrificial love in Christian giving, directly linking material generosity to a theological understanding of Christ's work. The choice of the Greek word ptōcheuō (became poor) is significant because it is a very strong term for abject destitution, going beyond merely not being wealthy to actively embracing poverty. This active embrace by Christ underscores the depth of His intentional identification with humanity's need. Furthermore, the spiritual richness we gain in Christ transcends any earthly concept of wealth; it refers to an incorruptible inheritance and an eternal, abundant relationship with God. This divine exchange perfectly exemplifies how God's grace works: unmerited, undeserved, and transformative at immense cost to Himself. The verse serves as a crucial theological anchor, guarding against any misinterpretation that would reduce Christ's sacrifice to merely a material transaction or suggest that material poverty is inherently ungodly or a sign of God's disfavor.

2 Corinthians 8 9 Commentary

2 Corinthians 8:9 offers a profound articulation of Christology and the essence of divine grace, providing the ultimate theological impetus for Christian generosity. It describes the unparalleled "divine exchange": Christ, who eternally existed in the most profound richness of divine glory and substance, willingly set aside the exercise of His heavenly prerogatives (He did not cease to be God, but ceased to exploit His equality with God - Php 2:6-7) to enter into absolute human destitution. His "poverty" encompasses not only a lack of material possessions but the full measure of His incarnational humility, suffering, identification with humanity in its sinfulness (though He had no sin), and His death on the cross. This profound self-emptying was exclusively "for your sakes," enabling humanity, through His sacrifice and identification with their brokenness, to inherit spiritual "riches" – namely, reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sins, eternal life, righteousness, and every spiritual blessing. The verse firmly grounds practical giving in the deepest theological reality of the Gospel, challenging believers to mirror Christ's selfless love in their own generosity towards others. It is a powerful rebuttal to any notion that God's favor is primarily expressed in material prosperity, reorienting the concept of true wealth to spiritual abundance found in Christ.

Examples:

• A Christian executive uses their wealth and influence to fund a mission to build wells in drought-stricken regions, mirroring Christ's willingness to give from His abundance to alleviate destitution.
• A financially stable believer volunteers countless hours serving in a homeless shelter, putting aside personal comfort and leisure to embrace a form of "poverty" (of time/resources) to enrich others spiritually and physically, just as Christ did.
• A family, though not wealthy, tithes consistently and gives offerings, choosing to sacrifice personal desires for financial enrichment to invest in God's kingdom work, reflecting a prioritization of spiritual over material gain.