"For to {their} power, I bear record, yea, and beyond {their} power {they were} willing of themselves;" — 2 Corinthians 8:3

2 Corinthians 8:3 · KJV

“For to {their} power, I bear record, yea, and beyond {their} power {they were} willing of themselves;”

— 2 Corinthians 8:3

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. {liberality: Gr. simplicity}

Verse 4

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and {take upon us} the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

2 Corinthians 8 — Context

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. {liberality: Gr. simplicity}

For to {their} power, I bear record, yea, and beyond {their} power {they were} willing of themselves;

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and {take upon us} the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

And {this they did}, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Cross References

Exodus 35:29

The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

Exodus 35:5

Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever {is} of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,

Exodus 35:21-22

And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, {and} they brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

But this {I say}, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Philemon 1:14

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

1 Corinthians 16:2

Upon the first {day} of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as {God} hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

1 Corinthians 9:17

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation {of the gospel} is committed unto me.

Acts 11:29

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: