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2 Corinthians 8:8-10
New Catholic Bible
2 Corinthians 8:8-10
New Catholic Bible
8 I am not saying this to you as a command, but rather I am testing the genuine character of your love by the concern you show for others. 9 For you are well aware of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, he became poor for your sake so that by his poverty you might become rich.[a]
10 I will now give you my advice about what I believe is appropriate in this matter. Last year, you were the first not only to engage in this good work but also to do so willingly.
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- 2 Corinthians 8:9 Paul now returns to the point, expressed earlier, about Jesus’ experience. Instead of using life and death (2 Cor 5:15) or sin and righteousness (2 Cor 5:21), he uses poverty and wealth. This passage has been interpreted by many scholars as referring to Jesus’ preexistence with God (“wealth”) (see Jn 1:1) and to his Incarnation and Death (“poverty”) (see Phil 2:6-8). Others take it to refer to phases of Jesus’ earthly existence, i.e., his sense of intimacy with the Father (Jn 10:15, 30; 11:42) and his feeling of estrangement from him in his Death (Mk 15:34).
2 Corinthians 8:8-10
New International Version
2 Corinthians 8:8-10
New International Version
8 I am not commanding you,(A) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace(B) of our Lord Jesus Christ,(C) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,(D) so that you through his poverty might become rich.(E)
10 And here is my judgment(F) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.(G)
New International Version (NIV) 
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