2 Corinthians 8:7

2 Corinthians 8:7 is a powerful encouragement from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church, urging them to extend their excellence in spiritual gifts and virtues to the practical act of generous giving. Paul acknowledges their strengths while gently challenging them to grow in an area that demonstrates true Christian love and commitment.

Context

This verse is part of Paul's broader appeal to the Corinthian believers to contribute to a collection for the impoverished saints in Jerusalem. In chapters 8 and 9 of his second letter, Paul uses various arguments and examples to motivate them. He highlights the exemplary generosity of the Macedonian churches, who, despite their own poverty, gave sacrificially (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). Paul isn't commanding them but appealing to their spiritual maturity and desire to follow Christ's example of self-giving love.

Key Themes

• Excellence in All Virtues: Paul commends the Corinthians for their existing spiritual abundance, listing specific qualities: faith (trust in God), utterance (ability to speak God's truth), knowledge (spiritual understanding), diligence (earnestness and zeal), and love to us (their affection for Paul and his ministry). This passage emphasizes that Christian growth should be holistic, encompassing all aspects of life and spiritual endowment. Paul also previously noted their richness in spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 1:5.
• The Grace of Giving: The core message is to "abound in this grace also." The "grace" here refers to the act of giving itself, framed not as a burden or obligation, but as a divine enablement and a spiritual gift. Just as God bestows grace upon believers, they are to manifest that grace through acts of generosity. It's a call to view financial stewardship as an extension of their spiritual life and an expression of their faith.
• Balancing Spiritual Gifts with Practical Love: The verse serves as a reminder that spiritual endowments and intellectual understanding must be balanced with tangible expressions of love and practical service. True spiritual maturity is demonstrated not only in what one knows or says, but also in how one lives and gives to others, especially those in need.

Linguistic Insights

• The word "abound" comes from the Greek perisseuo (περισσεύω), meaning "to superabound," "to excel," "to be exceedingly rich," or "to overflow." Paul uses this strong verb to convey the idea of not just participating, but excelling and being abundant in generosity, just as they excelled in other areas.
• The term "grace" is from the Greek charis (χάρις), which fundamentally means "unmerited favor" or "divine influence." Here, it extends to encompass the spiritual gift and act of giving, highlighting that generosity is not merely a human effort but a divinely empowered capacity and an expression of God's favor working through believers. Paul later assures them that God is able to make all grace abound toward you.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Corinthians 8:7 is a profound challenge to examine our own lives and priorities. It encourages us to:

• Holistic Growth: Strive for spiritual maturity in all areas—faith, knowledge, diligence, and love—and not neglect the practical demonstration of giving.
• Generosity as a Spiritual Discipline: Embrace giving not as a duty, but as a grace and an opportunity to express our love for God and others, reflecting His own generous nature.
• Stewardship: Recognize that our resources are God-given and are to be managed and shared in a way that honors Him and blesses His kingdom.
• Excellence in Giving: Just as we aim for excellence in our spiritual walk, we should also aim for excellence in our generosity, giving cheerfully and sacrificially as we are able.