Greek word · G4288

προθυμία

prothymia

eagerness

Eagerness, readiness, willingness, zeal, goodwill. It is built from pro- (forward) and thumos (spirit, passion), so the picture is a spirit leaning forward toward an action. It describes an active inclination to do something, not a passive mood.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

προθυμία, -ας, ἡ

(πρόθυμος), [in LXX: Sirach 45:23 * ;]

eagerness, willingness, readiness: Acts 17:11, 2 Corinthians 8:11-12 8:19 9:2.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Corinthians 8:12

Range of meaning: Eagerness, readiness, willingness, zeal, goodwill. It is built from pro- (forward) and thumos (spirit, passion), so the picture is a spirit leaning forward toward an action. It describes an active inclination to do something, not a passive mood.
Against the English: KJV "a willing mind" is good but sounds a little intellectual. "Readiness" (WEB, ESV) and "eagerness" (BSB) catch the energy better. "Willingness" (NIV) can sound like mere consent ("I'm willing"), while the Greek leans toward keenness.
Used elsewhere in the period: Common in classical and Hellenistic Greek for zeal or goodwill (e.g. Thucydides, Plato). Josephus uses it often for eager loyalty. Honorific inscriptions commonly praise a benefactor's goodwill and zeal toward a city. In the Greek Old Testament see Sirach 45:23 (Phinehas acting "in the goodness of the readiness of his soul"). In the NT it appears in Acts 17:11 (the Bereans received the word "with all eagerness") and four times in this collection section: 2 Cor 8:11, 12, 19; 9:2.

From the study of 2 Corinthians 8:19

Range of meaning: Readiness, eagerness, willing goodwill, a spirit that is keen to act.
Against the English: KJV 'your ready mind', WEB/NASB 'our readiness', BSB 'our eagerness to help', ESV 'our good will'.
Used elsewhere in the period: A recurring word in this collection appeal: 8:11–12 (readiness to give is what counts) and 9:2 (Paul boasts of the Corinthians' eagerness). Common in Hellenistic honorific language for a citizen's zeal on behalf of a community.

From the study of 2 Corinthians 9:2

Range of meaning: Readiness, eagerness, goodwill; literally a "forward-mindedness" (pro- "before/forward" + thymos "spirit, heart"). It names the inner willingness that comes before action, not the action itself.
Against the English: KJV "forwardness of your mind" is a very literal rendering. BSB/NIV add "to help"; ESV/NASB/WEB "readiness." All capture the sense; the additions in BSB/NIV are interpretive but fair.
How it drifted: KJV's "forwardness" now suggests boldness or presumption. In 1611 it meant eagerness, readiness.
Used elsewhere in the period: Common in Greek honorific inscriptions praising benefactors for their eagerness toward the city. LXX 1 Chr 29:5-9 uses related language for Israel's willing gifts to the temple. In the NT almost all uses are in this collection passage (8:11, 12, 19; 9:2) plus Acts 17:11.

Similar words

Where it appears

Acts · 1

Acts 17:11 προθυμίας readiness

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

Here: Forward-leaning willingness and keen readiness. The Greek word combines 'before, forward' with 'spirit, heart'. Paul uses it for the Corinthians' eagerness to give (2 Cor 8:11–12; 9:2).

2 Corinthians · 4

2 Corinthians 8:11 προθυμία readiness

Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.
2 Corinthians 8:12 προθυμία readiness

For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

Here: An eager, willing inclination of the heart toward doing something. Here it means the Corinthians' keenness to take part in the collection, which they began a year earlier.
2 Corinthians 8:19 προθυμίαν readiness

More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

Here: Willing, ready enthusiasm. It is a key word of this section (8:11–12; 9:2). The delegation shows how willing Paul's team is to see the gift through.
2 Corinthians 9:2 προθυμίαν readiness

For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

Here: A ready, forward-leaning willingness to act. Here it means their willingness to take part in the collection, a willingness already shown, even though the giving isn't finished (compare 8:11-12).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.