2 Corinthians 8:1–5
The assemblies of Macedonia gave joyfully though deeply poor
Study it word by word1Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,
2that in a great test of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty have overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.
3For I testify that according to their ability and beyond their ability, of their own accord,
4with much urging they begged us for the favor and the sharing in the service for the saints,
5and not as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God,
In its context
…
6so that we urged Titus that just as he had begun before, so he would also complete among you this grace as well.
7But just as you abound in everything, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love from us in you, see that you abound in this grace also.
Its words in the original
- ΓνωρίζομενGnōrizomen· make known
Make known.
- ἀδελφοίadelphoi· brother
Brother. Also a close relative, a fellow countryman and, among believers, a brother in the faith.
- χάρινcharin· grace
Grace, favor.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- δεδομένηνdedomenēn· give
Give.
- ἐκκλησίαιςekklēsiais· assembly
Assembly: the people God calls together and gathers. It is the word usually translated “church.”
- ΜακεδονίαςMakedonias· Macedonia
Macedonia: the region of northern Greece.
- πολλῇpollēi· much, many
Much, great; in the plural, many.
- δοκιμῇdokimēi· proven character, proof
Proven character: what is shown to be genuine by testing; also the test or the proof itself.
- θλίψεωςthlipseōs· trouble, affliction
Affliction, distress, pressure.
- περισσείαperisseia· abundance
Abundance: what overflows.
- χαρᾶςcharas· joy
Joy, gladness.
- βάθουςbathous· depth
Depth; the deep.
- πτωχείαptōcheia· poverty
Poverty: extreme need, having almost nothing.
- ἐπερίσσευσενeperisseusen· be left over, abound
Be left over, abound; exceed.
- πλοῦτοςploutos· wealth
Riches, wealth.
- ἁπλότητοςhaplotētos· generosity, sincerity
Generosity; simplicity, single-heartedness, giving without ulterior motive.
- δύναμινdynamin· power, mighty work
Power, strength, ability. In the plural, works of power: miracles.
- μαρτυρῶmartyrō· testify
Testify, bear witness.
- αὐθαίρετοιauthairetoi· of one's own accord
Of one's own accord, by one's own choice, without anyone forcing.
- παρακλήσεωςparaklēseōs· encouragement, comfort
Encouragement, comfort; also an appeal or exhortation.
- δεόμενοιdeomenoi· ask, beg
Ask, plead, beg.
- κοινωνίανkoinōnian· fellowship, sharing
Fellowship, sharing: having life and goods in common; also the help that is shared.
- διακονίαςdiakonias· service, ministry
Service, ministry: the work of a servant; also help sent to those in need.
- ἁγίουςhagious· holy
Holy: set apart for God, pure, belonging to him.
- ἠλπίσαμενēlpisamen· hope
Hope, put one's hope in something or someone.
- πρῶτονprōton· first
First, foremost.
- κυρίῳkyriōi· Lord, lord
Lord, master, owner. Said of God, the Lord; in Old Testament quotations it stands for the name YHWH.
- θελήματοςthelēmatos· will
Will: what someone wants and decides.