SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:8
No hablo como quien manda, sino por experimentar la liberalidad de vuestra caridad por la solicitud de los otros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:8
Verse 8. I speak not by commandment] 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. The forwardness of others] Viz. 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 honour, 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. I speak not by commandment , etc..] Either of God, who has not fixed the certain times when, or certain sums which persons are to give, and other circumstances, which are left to discretion; but in general has signified it as his will, that those in necessity are to be relieved by such who are in ability to do it: or as an apostle, he did not speak in an imperious manner, extorting from them a collection, or laying his apostolical injunctions upon them to make one; he did not go about to force or oblige them to it, for men in such cases must act willingly, and what they do, must do of their own accord with cheerfulness, and not through constraint or grudgingly: but by occasion of the forwardness of others ; or through carefulness for others; what moved the apostle to propose this matter to the Corinthians, and exhort them to it, were either the forwardness of the Macedonians, cheerfully contributing in the midst of their poverty, and their urgent solicitations that the same good work might go on elsewhere, or else the very great care and concern that he himself had for the poor saints at Jerusalem: it was not therefore to show his apostolical authority, that he sent Titus to them to finish this service; but he was stirred up hereunto, partly by the bounty and solicitations of others, and partly by bowels of compassion within himself, and concern in his own mind for the poor saints; and also, as he adds, 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.
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
ου 3756 PRT-N κατ 2596 PREP επιταγην 2003 N-ASF λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S αλλα 235 CONJ δια 1223 PREP της 3588 T-GSF ετερων 2087 A-GPM σπουδης 4710 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ το 3588 T-ASN της 3588 T-GSF υμετερας 5212 S-2GPF αγαπης 26 N-GSF γνησιον 1103 A-ASN δοκιμαζων 1381 5723 V-PAP-NSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. Sincerity (gnhsion). Used by Paul only. Contracted from genhsiov legitimately born: hence genuine. Paul calls Timothy his lawful son in the faith (1 Tim. i. 2). The kindred adverb gnhsiwv sincerely (A.V. naturally), occurs once, Philip. ii. 20. See note.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
8:8 {Proving} (dokimazwn). Testing and so proving. {The sincerity also of your love} (kai to tes humeteras agapes gnesion). Old adjective, contraction of genesios (ginomai), legitimately born, not spurious. A collection is a test of one's love for Christ, not the only test, but a real one.
