InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEUT JOB YEHO (JOS) HERO (JDG) RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG YOEL (JOEL) MIC ISA ZEP HAB YIR (JER) LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBAD DAN EZEK EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL 2 PS WIS TOB MAN BAR G DAN G ESD L ESD ESG JDT 3 MAC SIR 1 MAC 2 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL LAOD PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
InterlinearVerse 2 Cor C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13
2 Cor 8 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24
People tagged in the matching LV passage: Paul
Used in these topics: Stewardship, contentment and generosity
OET-LV And a_opinion in this I_am_giving, because/for this for_you_all is_benefitting, who not only which to_do, but also which to_be_willing, previously_began from last_year.
OET (OET-RV) And I’m giving my opinion on this because it’s beneficial for you all not only to do what began last year, but to do it willingly.
The believers in Corinth had previously decided to collect money to send to the poor believers in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1–4). In this section, Paul spoke of the generous gift of money from the believers in Macedonia and their attitude in giving (2 Corinthians 8:1–5). Paul hoped that the believers in Corinth would follow that example of giving.
Then Paul told them that Titus was coming to them to help collect the money (8:6). Paul encouraged them to give generously just as they did other things well (8:7). He indicated that he wanted to see that they were sincere in their promise to help the poor with this gift (8:8). He further encouraged them by using the example of Jesus giving (8:9).
Then Paul advised them how best to collect the money for the gift (8:10–11). Then he explained that what matters is giving according to what each person has (8:12). The goal in giving is equality, not making oneself poor for the sake of others (8:13–15).
Other examples for this section heading are:
Encouragement to Be Generous (NRSV)
A Call to Generous Giving (NLT)
Complete(plur) the collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem
And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter:
¶ And, I give advice to you about this matter, because this matter will benefit you(plur),
¶ And I am telling my opinion to you because doing this deed as I suggest will be helpful to you. My opinion is this:
And: This conjunction indicates a general connection to the previous verses. Paul had more to say about the believers giving money to the poor believers in Jerusalem.
this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: The Greek words are literally “An opinion I give in this, because this is helpful/beneficial for you.” The first this refers to collecting money. The second this probably refers to the same thing.The second “this” could refer to Paul’s opinion. This interpretation is possible, but few English versions translate it that way. This clause indicates what Paul thought was the right way to collect money for the poor believers. Doing this deed as Paul suggested would also benefit those who gave. Other ways to translate this are:
I will give you my considered opinion in the matter; this will be the right course for you (NJB)
My opinion is that it is better for you to (GNT)
Here is my opinion in the matter. I think it would be a good thing for you (JBP)
Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.
considering that last year you were not only the first to begin giving, but also the first to desire to do that,
The previous year you were the first among the churches to desire to help and to begin to do,
Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire: In 8:10a, Paul said that he was about to give advice. 8:10b is not the advice; it is additional information before Paul gave his advice in 8:11. In 8:10b, Paul complimented the believers in Corinth, because they were the first group to think about helping and also to begin collecting the money. Translate in a way that indicates these words are not the advice that Paul said he would give. For example:
since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, (NET)
In some languages it is more natural to put 8:10b before 8:10a. In this way, Paul’s statement that he had advice is immediately before the advice (8:11). For example:
10bLast year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 10aHere is my advice about what is best for you in this matter:
you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire: The Greek words are literally “you previously began not only the doing but also the desiring.” It emphasizes the believers desiring to help. Other ways to translate this are:
who…started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it (ESV)
you were the first to give, but more than that, you were the first to have the desire to do so
you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it (NLT)
you were the first: The Greek word is literally “to begin before” and in this case, means “you previously began.” For example:
you began (RSV)
But the BSB and many scholars and other English versions think that Paul said here that the Corinthian believers began before all other believers.The BDAG and Louw & Nida both indicate it means “begin previously.” The scholars who say it means “begin first” do not explain why they translate it that way.
to give: The Greek words are literally “the doing.” In the context this verb is referring to giving the money.
Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns
ἐν τούτῳ
in this
Here, the word this could refer to: (1) the issue that Paul is speaking about, which is the Corinthians collecting money for believers in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: [about this grace of giving] or [about collecting money]; (2) what Paul is about to say. Alternate translation: [in what follows] or [in what I am about to say]
Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns
τοῦτο
this
Here, the word this could refer to: (1) the Corinthians hearing Paul’s opinion. Alternate translation: [listening to my opinion]; (2) how Paul is giving an opinion instead of a command. Alternate translation: [an opinion instead of a command]; (3) giving money. Alternate translation: [the act of giving] or [collecting money]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish
ὑμῖν & οἵτινες
˱for˲_you_all & who
Here, the word who could introduce: (1) further information about what the Corinthians were doing. In this case, it describes the Corinthians instead of distinguishing them from other people. Alternate translation: [for you, who]; (2) what kind of people the Corinthians are. In this case, it distinguishes the Corinthians from other people and describes them as the kind of people for whom this is profitable. Alternate translation: [for you, you who] or [for you, since you]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure
οὐ μόνον τὸ ποιῆσαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ θέλειν, προενήρξασθε ἀπὸ πέρυσι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί γνώμην ἐν τούτῳ δίδωμι τοῦτο γάρ ὑμῖν συμφέρει οἵτινες οὒ μόνον τό ποιῆσαι ἀλλά καί τό θέλειν προενήρξασθε ἀπό πέρυσι)
If your language would not naturally put the negative statement before the positive statement, you could reverse the two clauses here. Paul is emphasizing desire, so consider a natural way to emphasize this part of the sentence. Alternate translation: [certainly desired to begin to do this and did not just begin to do it]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τὸ ποιῆσαι & τὸ θέλειν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί γνώμην ἐν τούτῳ δίδωμι τοῦτο γάρ ὑμῖν συμφέρει οἵτινες οὒ μόνον τό ποιῆσαι ἀλλά καί τό θέλειν προενήρξασθε ἀπό πέρυσι)
In these phrases, Paul is speaking about collecting money for the believers in Jerusalem. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [to collect money for the Jerusalem believers … to do desire to do so]
OET-LV And a_opinion in this I_am_giving, because/for this for_you_all is_benefitting, who not only which to_do, but also which to_be_willing, previously_began from last_year.
OET (OET-RV) And I’m giving my opinion on this because it’s beneficial for you all not only to do what began last year, but to do it willingly.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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