2 COR 8:3 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For I testify that they gave according to their ability, and beyond their ability, of their own accord,

UST In fact, I can tell you that they offered as much as they could afford, and even more than they could afford. They were the ones who chose to do this.

BLB For I testify that according to their ability and beyond their ability, they were willing of themselves,

AICNT For according to their ability, I testify, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily,

OEB I can bear witness that to the full extent of their power, and even beyond their power, spontaneously,

WEBBE For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,

LSV because, according to [their] power, I testify, and above [their] power, they were willing of themselves,

FBV I can confirm that they gave what they could, in fact even more than that! By their own choice

TCNT For I testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,

T4T I know that this is true, because I have seen for myself that they not only gave money [EUP] that they were able to give, they gave so much money that they did not even keep enough to buy what they needed for themselves. Without anyone telling them to share their possessions,

LEB I testify that they gave[fn] according to their ability, and beyond their ability, by their own choice,

8:3 *The words “they gave” are not in the Greek text, but are implied

BBE For I give them witness, that as they were able, and even more than they were able, they gave from the impulse of their hearts,

Moff I can testify that up to their means, aye and beyond their means, they have given —

Wymth For I can testify that to the utmost of their power, and even beyond their power, they have of their own free will given help.

ASV For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

DRA For according to their power (I bear them witness), and beyond their power, they were willing.

YLT because, according to [their] power, I testify, and above [their] power, they were willing of themselves,

Drby For according to [their] power, I bear witness, and beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of their own accord,

RV For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

SLT For according to power, I testify, and above power chosen voluntarily;

Wbstr For to their power, I bear testimony, and even beyond their power, they were willing of themselves;

KJB-1769 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

KJB-1611 For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselues:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For to their powers (I beare them recorde) yea & beyonde their powers, they were wyllyng.
(For to their powers (I bear them recorde) yea and beyond their powers, they were wylling.)

Gnva For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyonde their power, they were willing,
(For to their power (I bear record) yea, and beyond their power, they were willing, )

Cvdl For to their power (I beare recorde) yee and beyonde their power, they were wyllinge of their awne acorde,
(For to their power (I bear recorde) ye/you_all and beyond their power, they were wyllinge of their own accorde,)

TNT For to their powers (I beare recorde) yee and beyonde their power they were willynge of their owne accorde
(For to their powers (I bear recorde) ye/you_all and beyond their power they were willing of their own accord )

Wycl For Y bere witnessyng to hem, aftir miyt and aboue miyt thei weren wilful,
(For I bear witnessing to hem, after might and above might they were wilful,)

Luth Denn nach allem Vermögen (das zeuge ich) und über Vermögen waren sie selbst willig
(Because after everything assets/fortune (the witness(v) I) and above assets/fortune were they/she/them himself/itself willing)

ClVg quia secundum virtutem testimonium illis reddo, et supra virtutem voluntarii fuerunt,
(because after/second virtue testimony to_them reddo, and above virtue voluntarii they_were, )

UGNT ὅτι κατὰ δύναμιν μαρτυρῶ, καὶ παρὰ δύναμιν, αὐθαίρετοι
(hoti kata dunamin marturō, kai para dunamin, authairetoi)

SBL-GNT ὅτι κατὰ δύναμιν, μαρτυρῶ, καὶ ⸀παρὰ δύναμιν, αὐθαίρετοι
(hoti kata dunamin, marturō, kai ⸀para dunamin, authairetoi)

RP-GNT Ὅτι κατὰ δύναμιν, μαρτυρῶ, καὶ ὑπὲρ δύναμιν αὐθαίρετοι,
(Hoti kata dunamin, marturō, kai huper dunamin authairetoi,)

TC-GNT Ὅτι κατὰ δύναμιν, μαρτυρῶ, καὶ [fn]ὑπὲρ δύναμιν αὐθαίρετοι,
(Hoti kata dunamin, marturō, kai huper dunamin authairetoi, )

8:3 υπερ ¦ παρα CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–15: Be generous as you are able

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

8:3a–4a

For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord, they earnestly pleaded with us: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Of their own accord can also be translated as “by their own choice.” There are two ways to interpret the connection of this phrase to the other words:

The phrase connects back to 8:3a. For example:
For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, ⁴begging us (RSV) (RSV, NJB, GW, CEV, REB, ESV, KJV)
The phrase connects forward to 8:4a. For example:
I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. Of their own free will ⁴they begged us (GNT) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NABRE, NLT, NET, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Harris (p. 558), Martin (p. 248), Kistemaker (p. 273), and Thrall (p. 520) all connect 8:3c to 8:3a–b in their translations. Thrall says, “Paul explains further what he has just said” (p. 524).

8:3a

For I testify that they gave according to their ability

For I can accurately/faithfully report that they gave according to what they could,
I truthfully assert that they gave as much as their resources/means allowed,

For: This conjunction introduces a further explanation of about their generosity. But in some languages, it is more natural to allow the context to indicate the connection and omit the conjunction.

testify: This word means “report what one saw.” The word is often used where the person is expected to be truthful and accurate. Here Paul was convinced that they gave as much as they were able. Other ways to translate this word are:

faithfully report

accurately/truthfully assert

See how you translated this word in 1:12.

they gave according to their ability: The believers knew how much money it was possible for them to give. They did not keep any of it for themselves. Other ways to translate this clause are:

they gave according to their means (RSV)

they gave as much as they could (GNT)

8:3b

and even beyond it.

and even more than what they could give,
and indeed more than their resources/means allowed.

and even beyond it: The word even emphasizes the words beyond it. It indicates that the giving of the Macedonian churches increased from as much as they were able to beyond their ability.

beyond it: This phrase indicates that not only did the believers give as much as they were able, they also gave more than that. For example, some of them may have given some of the money that they needed to buy their own food and then trusted God to provide food for them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

beyond their means (RSV)

more than they could (GNT)

8:3c

Of their own accord,

and they chose/decided to do that on their own.
Nobody told them to do so/that.

Of their own accord: This phrase indicates that no one told the believers in Macedonia to give. The believers heard of the need and decided by themselves that they wanted to help. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

of their own free will (RSV)

it was of their own accord (NJB)

voluntarily (NRSV)

without anyone urging them

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅτι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὅτι κατά δύναμιν μαρτυρῶ καί παρά δύναμιν αὐθαίρετοι)

Here, the word For introduces a support for what Paul said in the previous verse ([8:2](../08/02.md)) about the “riches of their generosity.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces support for a claim. Alternate translation: [Indeed,] or [As a matter of fact,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

κατὰ δύναμιν & παρὰ δύναμιν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὅτι κατά δύναμιν μαρτυρῶ καί παρά δύναμιν αὐθαίρετοι)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of ability, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [they gave according to what they were able to give … beyond what they were able to give]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

αὐθαίρετοι

voluntary

Here, the phrase of their own accord indicates that no one forced or required the believers in Macedonia to act as they did. Rather, they chose to do so on their own. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable expression. Alternate translation: [of their own free will] or [because they wanted to]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure