2 Corinthians 8:3

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Exod 35:29 : 29 The Israelites brought a freewill offering to the LORD, every man and woman whose heart was willing to bring materials for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.
  • 1 Chr 29:5-6 : 5 for gold and silver items, and for all the work of the craftsmen. Who else wants to contribute to the LORD today?” 6 The leaders of the families, the leaders of the Israelite tribes, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, and the supervisors of the king’s work contributed willingly.
  • 1 Chr 29:9 : 9 The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the LORD with a willing attitude; King David was also very happy.
  • 1 Cor 16:2 : 2 On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come.
  • Exod 35:5 : 5 ‘Take an offering for the LORD. Let everyone who has a willing heart bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, bronze,
  • Exod 35:21-22 : 21 Everyone whose heart stirred him to action and everyone whose spirit was willing came and brought the offering for the LORD for the work of the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 They came, men and women alike, all who had willing hearts. They brought brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments, all kinds of gold jewelry, and everyone came who waved a wave offering of gold to the LORD.
  • Phlm 1:14 : 14 However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.
  • 1 Pet 4:11 : 11 Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
  • 1 Pet 5:2 : 2 Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
  • 2 Cor 8:11-12 : 11 to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means. 12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.
  • 2 Cor 8:16-17 : 16 The Mission of Titus But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you, 17 because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord.
  • 2 Cor 9:6-7 : 6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
  • Gal 4:15 : 15 Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!
  • Phil 2:13 : 13 for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort– for the sake of his good pleasure– is God.
  • Col 4:13 : 13 For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
  • 1 Thess 2:8 : 8 with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
  • 1 Chr 29:13-17 : 13 Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name! 14 “But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours. 15 For we are resident foreigners and temporary settlers in your presence, like all our ancestors; our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security. 16 O LORD our God, all this wealth, which we have collected to build a temple for you to honor your holy name, comes from you; it all belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you examine thoughts and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you.
  • Ps 110:3 : 3 Your people willingly follow you when you go into battle. On the holy hills at sunrise the dew of your youth belongs to you.
  • Mark 14:8 : 8 She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial.
  • Acts 11:29 : 29 So the disciples, each in accordance with his financial ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
  • Rom 10:2 : 2 For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.
  • 1 Cor 9:17 : 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 2 Cor 8:1-2
    2 verses
    85%

    1Completing the Collection for the Saints Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia,

    2that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity.

  • 2 Cor 8:4-5
    2 verses
    79%

    4begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.

    5And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

  • 2 Cor 8:7-9
    3 verses
    78%

    7But as you excel in everything– in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you– make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.

    8I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.

    9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.

  • 2 Cor 9:11-14
    4 verses
    75%

    11You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,

    12because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.

    13Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone.

    14And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.

  • 2 Cor 8:11-15
    5 verses
    74%

    11to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means.

    12For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.

    13For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

    14At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality,

    15as it is written:“The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

  • Rom 15:26-27
    2 verses
    74%

    26For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

    27For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things.

  • 2 Cor 11:8-9
    2 verses
    73%

    8I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you!

    9When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

  • 2 Cor 9:1-3
    3 verses
    73%

    1Preparing the Gift For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints,

    2because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them.

    3But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them.

  • 2 Cor 8:19-20
    2 verses
    73%

    19In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help.

    20We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.

  • 2 Cor 8:17
    72%

    17because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord.

  • 2 Cor 9:5
    72%

    5Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.

  • Gal 2:10
    72%

    10They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.

  • 2 Cor 9:7-8
    2 verses
    71%

    7Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.

    8And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work.

  • Acts 11:29
    71%

    29So the disciples, each in accordance with his financial ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

  • 2 Cor 7:4
    71%

    4A Letter That Caused Sadness I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering.

  • 1 Thess 2:8
    71%

    8with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

  • 2 Cor 12:15
    70%

    15Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

  • 2 Cor 8:24
    70%

    24Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.

  • 2 Thess 3:8-9
    2 verses
    70%

    8and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you.

    9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

  • 2 Cor 1:11
    70%

    11as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.

  • Phlm 1:14
    70%

    14However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.

  • Phlm 1:8
    70%

    8Paul’s Request for Onesimus So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,

  • 2 Cor 1:8
    70%

    8For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.

  • 1 Cor 16:3
    70%

    3Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

  • 1 Thess 1:8
    70%

    8For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything.

  • Phil 4:16-17
    2 verses
    70%

    16For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need.

    17I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account.

  • Acts 20:34
    70%

    34You yourselves know that these hands of mine provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me.

  • 2 Cor 2:9
    69%

    9For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.

  • 3 John 1:6-7
    2 verses
    69%

    6They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

    7For they have gone forth on behalf of“The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans.

  • Phil 1:8
    69%

    8For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.