Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:7
Verse 7. As ye abound in every thing] See the note on 1 Cor. i. 5. In faith, crediting the whole testimony of God; in utterance, logw, in doctrine, knowing what to teach: knowledge of God's will, and prudence to direct you in teaching and doing it; in diligence, to amend all that is wrong among you, and to do what is right; and in love to us, whom now ye prize as the apostles of the Lord, and your pastors in him.
Abound in this grace also.] Be as eminent for your charitable disposition as ye are for your faith, doctrine, knowledge, diligence, and love.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. Therefore as ye abound in everything , etc..] In all gifts and every grace, in the use and exercise of them, insomuch that they were enriched in everything, and wanted nothing; (see 1 Corinthians 1:5-7), that is here expressed in general, is explained by particulars following: in faith : both in the doctrine of faith, which they had received and professed, held fast to, and abode by; yea, they abounded in the knowledge of it, zeal for it, and thankfulness to God on account of it; and in the grace of faith, not an historical one, nor the faith of miracles, but that which is peculiar to God's elect, is the gift of his grace and the work of his Spirit, which has Christ for its object, and works by love; in this they abounded, inasmuch as they had a large measure of it, grew in it, were full of it, and were much in the exercise thereof: in utterance , or speech: meaning either the gift of speaking with tongues, which many in this church had; or the gift; of understanding and explaining the word of God with much freedom; or a liberty of mind and speech to declare their faith in Christ, and make an ingenuous confession of it to others: in knowledge ; of God and of Christ, and of the truths of the Gospel: and in all diligence : their ministers were diligent in preaching the Gospel, the people in hearing the word, and attending on ordinances, and both studiously careful to keep up the discipline of the church; and very industrious to discharge the several duties of religion, and to assist one another, both in things temporal and spiritual: and in your love to us : the apostles and ministers of the word, whom they loved, esteemed, and honoured for their works' sake: and since they were so eminent for these graces, and the exercise of them, the apostle exhorts them to liberality to the poor saints; see that ye abound in this grace also ; for as faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence, and love to Christ's ministers are graces; so also is kindness shown to Christ's poor members, it is a gift of God's grace, cannot be rightly exercised without the assistance of his grace, has for its objects men who have received the grace of God, and will be rewarded with a reward of grace; persons eminent for the several graces of the Spirit of God, and the exercise of them, it may be not only desired, but expected from them, that they should abound in the exercise of beneficence to the poor. This is another argument exciting to that good work.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-9 - Faith is the root; and as without faith it is not possible to pleas God, Heb 11:6, so those who abound in faith, will abound in othe graces and good works also; and this will work and show itself by love Great talkers are not always the best doers; but these Corinthians wer diligent to do, as well as to know and talk well. To all these goo things the apostle desires them to add this grace also, to abound in charity to the poor. The best arguments for Christian duties, are draw from the grace and love of Christ. Though he was rich, as being God equal in power and glory with the Father, yet he not only became ma for us, but became poor also. At length he emptied himself, as it were to ransom their souls by his sacrifice on the cross. From what riches blessed Lord, to what poverty didst thou descend for our sakes! and to what riches hast thou advanced us through thy poverty! It is ou happiness to be wholly at thy disposal.
Greek Textus Receptus
αλλ 235 CONJ ωσπερ 5618 ADV εν 1722 PREP παντι 3956 A-DSN περισσευετε 4052 5719 V-PAI-2P πιστει 4102 N-DSF και 2532 CONJ λογω 3056 N-DSM και 2532 CONJ γνωσει 1108 N-DSF και 2532 CONJ παση 3956 A-DSF σπουδη 4710 N-DSF και 2532 CONJ τη 3588 T-DSF εξ 1537 PREP υμων 5216 P-2GP εν 1722 PREP ημιν 2254 P-1DP αγαπη 26 N-DSF ινα 2443 CONJ και 2532 CONJ εν 1722 PREP ταυτη 3778 D-DSF τη 3588 T-DSF χαριτι 5485 N-DSF περισσευητε 4052 5725 V-PAS-2P
Robertson's NT Word Studies
8:7 {In this grace also} (kai en tautei tei cariti). this gifted church (#1Co 12-14) had fallen behind in the grace of giving. Kindly irony in this allusion.
