Ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ ἐν παντὶ περισσεύετε, πίστει καὶ λόγῳ καὶ γνώσει καὶ πάσῃ σπουδῇ καὶ τῇ ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ, ἵνα καὶ ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ χάριτι περισσεύητε. (2 Corinthians 8:7)
Overflowing in All Things: Context and Contrast
In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul exhorts the Corinthians to follow through in generosity toward the Jerusalem believers. He frames the appeal not as a command but as an invitation to participate in grace. Verse 7 uses grammatical symmetry and a subjunctive purpose clause to extend that invitation: as they abound in many spiritual virtues, so they should also abound in this particular χάρις — the grace of giving.
The Indicative Abundance: ὥσπερ… περισσεύετε
ὥσπερ ἐν παντὶ περισσεύετε
“Just as you abound in everything”
- ὥσπερ is a comparative conjunction — “just as.”
- περισσεύετε is a present active indicative, 2nd person plural of περισσεύω, meaning “to abound, overflow, excel.”
- The phrase ἐν παντὶ is dative singular neuter — “in everything,” introducing a list of virtues.
This is Paul’s praise — acknowledging the Corinthian strengths — and foundation for exhortation.
Catalogue of Virtues
Each item is in the dative case, listing the spheres in which they abound:
- πίστει – “in faith”
- λόγῳ – “in speech”
- γνώσει – “in knowledge”
- πάσῃ σπουδῇ – “in all diligence”
- τῇ ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ – “in the love from you in us” or “the love you have for us”
The fifth item is a complex genitive-dative construction, emphasizing love as both originating from the Corinthians and manifested in relationship with Paul and his companions.
The Purpose Clause: ἵνα καὶ ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ χάριτι περισσεύητε
ἵνα… περισσεύητε
“so that you may abound in this grace also”
- ἵνα introduces a purpose clause.
- περισσεύητε is present active subjunctive, 2nd person plural — mirroring περισσεύετε, but now in the subjunctive mood: “may abound.”
- ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ χάριτι — “in this grace”: refers to the grace of giving, the act of participating in the collection for the saints.
The parallel structure (“as you abound in… so that you may abound in…”) creates an elegant rhetorical appeal: Paul connects their spiritual strengths to a practical outworking of grace.
Table: Grammatical Structure of Overflow
| Greek Phrase | Grammatical Form | Function | Theological Emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ὥσπερ… περισσεύετε | Comparative clause with present indicative | States their spiritual abundance | Affirms their giftedness and maturity |
| πίστει, λόγῳ, γνώσει, σπουδῇ | Dative nouns in series | Enumerates areas of excellence | Faith, doctrine, discernment, zeal |
| τῇ ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ | Dative + genitive + prepositional phrase | Expresses relational love | Genuine love as a lived virtue |
| ἵνα… περισσεύητε | Purpose clause with subjunctive | Calls them to excel in grace | Generosity as a mark of true spirituality |
Overflowing in Giving as in Grace
The grammar of 2 Corinthians 8:7 embodies Paul’s pastoral style: affirm before exhorting, and then connect spiritual maturity to practical generosity. The subjunctive mood (περισσεύητε) calls the Corinthians not to stop at gifts of word and knowledge, but to abound also in grace-in-action — giving.
The participatory nature of Christian life is embedded in the syntax: present abundance prepares the way for purposeful abundance. And all of it is rooted not in obligation, but in overflowing grace.
Paul’s Greek, like his gospel, flows with the rhythm of grace: “as you abound… so abound also in this.”
