And not as we hoped — That is, beyond all we could hope. They gave themselves to us, by the will of God — In obedience to his will, to be wholly directed by us.
Related Commentaries of 2 Corinthians 8:5
2 Corinthians 8:5
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.