2 Corinthians 8:8

2 Corinthians 8:8

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

a. NLT: I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

b. NIV: I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

c. YLT: Not according to command do I speak, but because of the diligence of others, and of your love proving the genuineness,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: I give this not as an order [to dictate to you], but to prove, by [pointing out] the zeal of others, the sincerity of your [own] love also.

e. Worrell Translation: I am not speaking by way of command; but as proving, through the diligence of others, the sincerity of your love.

f. Wuest Translation: I am not speaking by way of commandment, but through the instrumentality of others I am putting to the test the genuineness of your own love.

1. “I speak not by commandment…”

a. I speak [Strong: 3004 lego leg'-o a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas 2036 and 5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while 4483 is properly to break silence merely, and 2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

b. not [Strong: 3756  ou oo, also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

c. by [Strong: 2596 kata kat-ah' a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.

d. commandment [Strong: 2003 epitage ep-ee-tag-ay' from 2004; an injunction or decree; by implication, authoritativeness:--authority, commandment.]

1). Adam Clarke Commentary: I do not positively order this; I assume no right or authority over your property; what you devote of your substance to charitable purposes must be your own work, and a free-will offering.

2. “…but by occasion of the forwardness of others...”

a. but [Strong: 235 alla al-lah' neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. by occasion [Strong: 1223 dia dee-ah' a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

c. [of] the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. forwardness [Strong: 4710 spoude spoo-day' from 4692; "speed", i.e. (by implication) despatch, eagerness, earnestness:--business, (earnest) care(-fulness), diligence, forwardness, haste.]

e. of others [Strong: 2087 heteros het'-er-os of uncertain affinity; (an-, the) other or different:--altered, else, next (day), one, (an-)other, some, strange.]

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: I make use of the example of the churches of Macedonia as an argument to induce you to give liberally to the cause.

3. “…and to prove the sincerity of your love.”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, 

then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. to prove [Strong: 1381 dokimazo dok-im-ad'-zo from 1384; to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve:--allow, discern, examine, X like, (ap-)prove, try.]

c. the sincerity [Strong: 1103 gnesios gnay'-see-os from the same as 1077; legitimate (of birth), i.e. genuine:--own, sincerity, true.]

d. of your [Strong: 5212 humeteros hoo-met'-er-os from 5210; yours, i.e. pertaining to you:--your (own).]

e. love [Strong: 26 agape ag-ah'-pay from 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:--(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.]

1). Adam Clarke Commentary: The Churches of Macedonia, which had already exerted themselves so very much in this good work. And the apostle here intimates that he takes this opportunity to apprise them of the zeal of the Macedonians, lest those at Corinth, who excelled in every other gift, should be outdone in this. Their own honor, if better motives were absent, would induce them to exert themselves, that they might not be outdone by others. And then, as they had professed great love for the apostle, and this was a service that lay near his heart, they would prove the sincerity of that professed love by a liberal contribution for the afflicted and destitute Jewish Christians.

2). John Gill Commentary:  to prove the sincerity of your love; to God, to Christ, to his ministers, and to the saints, particularly the poor; that their love might appear to be true, genuine, hearty, and real to others, to all men as well as to them the apostles.