2 Corinthians 8:4
 
2 Corinthians 8:4
(KJV) Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
(1611 KJV) Praying vs with much entreatie, that we would receiue the gift, and take vpon vs the fellowship of the ministring to the Saints.
(1587 Geneva Bible) And praied vs with great instance that we woulde receiue the grace, and felowship of the ministring which is toward the Saints.
(1526 Tyndale) and prayed vs with great instaunce that we wolde receave their benefite and suffre them to be parttakers with other in ministrynge to the saynctes.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) beseeching us with much intreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:
(1901 ASV) beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:
(AMP) Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].
(CEB) They urgently begged us for the privilege of sharing in this service for the saints.
(CEV) They even asked and begged us to let them have the joy of giving their money for God's people
(CSB) they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,
(1899 Douay-Rheims RC) With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints.
(ESV) begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—
(GNB) they begged us and pleaded for the privilege of having a part in helping God's people in Judea.
(HCSB) they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,
(THE MESSAGE) They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.
(NASV) begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
(NCV) But they begged and pleaded with us to let them share in this service for God's people.
(NIV) they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
(NIRV) they begged us for the chance to share in serving God's people in that way.
(NLV) They asked from their hearts if they could help the Christians in Jerusalem.
(NLT) They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
(RSV) begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints -
(NAB-Roman Catholic) they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones,
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) while they of their own accord kept begging us with much entreaty for the [privilege of] kindly giving and for a share in the ministry destined for the holy ones.
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
μετα πολλης παρακλησεως δεομενοι ημων την χαριν και την κοινωνιαν της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους δεξασθαι ημας
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
μετα πολλης παρακλησεως δεομενοι ημων την χαριν και την κοινωνιαν της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century
K 018 - Ninth century
P 025 - Ninth century
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Stephanus (1550 A.D.)
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “that we would receive” and states “beseeching us with much intreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints”
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Hodges and Farstad - Majority Text
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
Here we have the true essence of Christian giving. Paul did not beg the Macedonians to give a gift rather it was the Christians of Macedonia who had urged Paul to receive the gift. The Macedonian Christians had so willingly gave a gift because they wanted to share in the helping of the needy brethren. These Christians had caught on to the idea of ministering to the needs of the Saints. They had insisted that Paul take the money with him to the needy Saints in Jerusalem. These Macedonian Christians were poor themselves, so they knew what that hardship was all about and could well identify with it. The modern versions omit the fact that the Macedonian church wanted Paul to take the offering with him. It shows the eagerness of this church to be obedient and compassionate to the Jerusalem church. The modern versions omit this great testimony of this church.

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