For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich, for love of you he became poor, so that you with his poverty might be enriched.
8:9 — “Because you already know… enriched”. Love is tested by liberality. If the Corinthians really loved, they would abound in the liberality of their giving, just as the love of Christ was abundantly manifested in his great sacrifice for the sinner. He became poor, leaving the glories of heaven (Joh 17:5) to humble himself for us (Phil 2:5-8). The incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ greatly enriched us, giving us the hope of eternal life. The abundance of Christ’s love, then, has been our criterion for our abundance towards those who belong to Christ. See 13:4; Eph 2:1-10; Tit 2:14.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
you already know the grace of our Lord. 2Co 13:14; Joh 1:14, Joh 1:17; Romans 5:8, Romans 5:20, Romans 5:21; 1Co 1:4; Eph 1:6-8; Eph 2:7; Eph 3:8, Eph 3:19.
that for love of you. Isaiah 62:1; Isaiah 65:8; Juh 12:30; Joh 17:19; Col 1:24.
he became poor. Isaiah 53:2; Matt 8:20; Matt 17:27; Matt 20:28; Mark 6:3; Luke 2:7; Luke 8:3; Luke 9:58; Phil 2:6-8.
being rich. Ps 102:25-27; Joh 1:1-4, Joh 1:10; Joh 16:15; 1Co 15:47; Phil 2:6; Col 1:16, Col 1:17; Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 1:6-14.
so that you … might be enriched. 2Co 6:10; Luke 16:11; Romans 8:32; Romans 11:12; 1Co 3:21, 1Co 3:22; Eph 3:8; 1Ti 6:18; Jas 2:5; Rev 3:18; Rev 21:7.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
The Corinthians did not need a command (v. 2Co 8:8), because Christ’s example taught them about sacrificial giving.
being rich: See (Joh 17:5; Col 1:16).
became poor: see Phil 2:7, Phil 2:8 for an eloquent description of all that Jesus Christ gave up to come to this earth.
You… were enriched it refers to the spiritual riches that Jesus gives to all who put their trust in him: he offers forgiveness, justification, regeneration, eternal life, and glorification. Jesus buys us out of slavery to sin and makes us children of God. He gives us the right and privilege to approach God with requests and praise.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
HE BECAME POOR. Sacrificial giving is an essential part of the nature and character of Christ. Because he became poor, believers now partake of his eternal riches. God wants believers to have that same attitude as evidence of the divine work of grace in them. All the gifts of grace and salvation, the kingdom of heaven, and even dishonor because of Christ are the eternal riches that are received in exchange for the rags of sin (Luke 12:15; Eph 1:3; Phil 4:11-13; Phil 4:18-19; Hebrews 11:26; Rev 3:17).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
being rich. A reference to the eternity and infinite existence of Christ. As the second person of the Trinity, Christ is as rich as God the Father. He owns all things and possesses all power, authority, sovereignty, glory, honor, and majesty (cf. Isaiah 9:6; Mic 5:2; Joh 1:1; Joh 8:58; Juh 10:30; Joh 17:5; Col 1:15-18; Col 2:9; Hebrews 1:3). he became poor. A reference to the incarnation of Christ (cf. Joh 1:14; Romans 1:3; Romans 8:3; Gal 4:4; Col 1:20; 1Ti 3:16; Hebrews 2:7). He put aside the independent exercise of all his divine prerogatives, gave up his own place with God, took on human form, and died on a cross as a common criminal (Phil 2:5-8). so that you … might be enriched. Believers acquire spiritual wealth through the voluntary sacrifice and impoverishment of Christ (Phil 2:5-8). They become rich with salvation, forgiveness, joy, peace, glory, honor, and majesty (cf. 1Co 1:4-5; 1Co 3:22; Eph 1:3; 1Pe 1:3-4). They become joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
8:9 — “For you already know… enriched.” Love is tested by liberality. If the Corinthians really loved, they would abound in the liberality of his offering, just as the love of Christ was abundantly manifested in his great sacrifice for the sinner. He became poor, leaving the glories of heaven (John 17:5) to humble himself for us (Phil 2:5-8). The incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ greatly enriched us, giving us the hope of eternal life. The abundance of Christ’s love, then, has been our criterion for our abundance towards those who belong to Christ. See 13:4; Eph 2:1-10; Tit 2:14.
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
Matt 8:20; Phil 2:7-8.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
GRADES
(1) “Jesus Christ.” B: “Jesus.”
CROSS-REFERENCES
j 308 Matt 8:20; Luke 9:58; Phil 2:7
k309 2Co 6:10
Source: New World Translation
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…being rich…he became poor. Christ owned, together with the Father, all created things (Jn 1:3), but he became poor by taking human limitations, dying to redeem the sinner (Phil 2:7-8) so that he who believes in He becomes spiritually rich (Eph 1:7, 18; 2:7; 3:8, 16).
Source: The Bible of the Americas
9 (1) It is grace for us that the Lord Jesus, being rich, became poor for love of us. According to the same principle, it is grace for others that for love of them we sacrifice our material riches.
Source: New Testament Commentary Recovery Version
R834 Ἐπτώχευσεν is used as an aorist indicating beginning: He became poor (comp. B37 and 1Co 4:8).
B438 The participle ὤν is used in a concessive sense: although he was rich.