2 Corinthians 8:12

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
For	γὰρ gar	G1063	properly · conjunction
if	εἰ ei	G1487	if · conditional particle
first	πρόκειται, prokeitai	G4295	to lie before the view · verb — present middle or passive deponent indicative, 3rd person singular
mind	προθυμία prothumia	G4288	predisposition · noun — nominative singular feminine
accepted	εὐπρόσδεκτος, euprosdektos	G2144	well-received · adjective — nominative singular feminine
that	καθὸ katho	G2526	according to which thing · conjunction
man	τὶς tìs	G5100	some or any person or object
hath	ἔχῃ echē	G2192	to hold (used in very various applications · verb — present active subjunctive, 3rd person singular
not	οὐ ou	G3756	the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb · particle — negative
to	καθὸ katho	G2526	according to which thing · conjunction
hath	ἔχει. echei	G2192	to hold (used in very various applications · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person singular
not	οὐκ ouk	G3756	the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb · particle — negative

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Mark 12:42-44 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner…
Luke 21:1-4 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
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.
Exodus 35:21-22 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering to the…
Exodus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my off…
Exodus 35:5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silv…
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

In these verses the apostle uses several cogent arguments to stir up the Corinthians to this good work of charity. I. He urges upon them the consideration of their eminence in other gifts and graces, and would have them excel in this of charity also, Co2 8:7. Great address and much holy art are here used by the apostle. When he would persuade the Corinthians to this good thing, he commends them for other good things that were found in them. Most people love to be complimented, especially when we ask a gift of them for ourselves or others; and it is a justice we owe to those in whom God's grace shines to give them their due commendation. Observe here, What it was that the Corinthians abounded…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 8:12

For--Following up the rule "out of that which ye have" (Co2 8:11), and no more. a willing mind--rather, as Greek, "the readiness," namely, to will, referring to Co2 8:11. accepted--Greek "favorably accepted." according to that a man hath--The oldest manuscripts omit "a man." Translate, "According to whatsoever it have"; the willing mind, or "readiness" to will, is personified [ALFORD]. Or better, as BENGEL, "He is accepted according to whatsoever he have"; so Co2 9:7, The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." Compare as to David, Kg1 8:18. God accepts the will for the deed. He judges not according to what a man has the opportunity to do, but according to what he would do if he had the opportu…

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Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 8:12

According to that a man hath - According to his real property; not taking that which belongs to his own family, and is indispensably necessary for their support; and not taking that which belongs to others; viz. what he owes to any man.

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 8:12

For if there be first a willing mind,.... If what is done springs from a truly noble, generous spirit, a spirit of bountifulness and liberality; and is given cheerfully and freely, and according to a man's ability; the quantity matters not, whether it be more or less: it is accepted; both of God and man: according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. The widow's mite was as acceptable, and more so, than all the rich men cast into the treasury; a cup of cold water given to a prophet, in the name of a prophet, is taken notice of by God, and shall have its reward. The present sent by the Philippians to the Apostle Paul, and which perhaps was not very large, was "an odour…

The Church Fathers

Quality, not quantity, is what counts.
— Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 329

Paul is exhorting the Corinthians to give what they are able but not to overdo it, because he did not want them to feel that they were acting under compulsion and thus come to be resentful.
— Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES

In the second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: "If there be a ready will, it is acceptable according to what a man hath, not according to that which he hath not; nor let there be to others a mitigation, but to you a burdening.
— Cyprian, Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Philippians, Epistle to — Was written by Paul during the two years when he was “in bonds” in Rome (Phil. 1:7-13), probably early in the year A.D. 62 or in the end of 61. The Philippians had sent Epaphroditus, their messenger,…
Beneficence · 18:5,7-9; — 18:5,7-9;
Giving · RULES FOR — RULES FOR
Liberality · 3:10-12; — 3:10-12;
Poor, The · Offerings of, acceptable to God — Offerings of, acceptable to God

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

2 Corinthians 8:12

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 8:12

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 8:12

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 8:12

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

2 Corinthians 8:12

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 8:12

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 8:12

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 8:12

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on 2 Corinthians 8:8-12

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 Corinthians 8:10