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2 Corinthians 8

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The Generosity of the Macedonians 1–6

1
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia; ​
2
how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. ​
3
For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
4
beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints: ​
5
and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. ​
6
Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also. ​

Exhortation to Abound in Giving 7–8

7
But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. ​
8
I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. ​

The Example of Christ's Poverty 9–15

9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich. ​
10
And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will. ​
11
But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
12
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not. ​
13
For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;
14
but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality: ​
15
as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack. ​

Accountability and the Messengers 16–24

16
But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. ​
17
For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.
18
And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches; ​
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and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness:
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avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us: ​
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for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. ​
22
And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he hath in you.
23
Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward; or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ. ​
24
Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for 2 Corinthians 8

Verse 1

the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia — Charis, favour freely given; here it is God's gift working in the churches, and it shows itself in giving. Paul later calls the collection itself 'the same grace' and 'this grace' (vv.6, 7, 19). Macedonia joined Achaia in it (Rom 15:26).

Verse 2

the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty — 'Trial' is dokime, proof by testing; 'affliction' is thlipsis, pressure. Joy and poverty together 'abounded unto the riches of their liberality' (haplotes, singleness of heart, generosity), as in 'as poor, yet making many rich' (2 Cor 6:10).

Verse 4

the fellowship of the ministering to the saints — Koinonia is partnership or sharing, and diakonia is service; together they name the collection as a joint ministry. The 'saints' are the poor believers at Jerusalem (Rom 15:26). The Macedonians asked 'with much intreaty' (paraklesis) to be included.

Verse 5

first gave their own selves to the Lord — 'Not as we hoped': they exceeded all expectation. The gift of money followed the gift of themselves, 'to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God'. Compare 'present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God' (Rom 12:1).

Verse 6

as he had begun, so he would also finish — Proenarchomai, to begin beforehand; the same verb returns in v.10 of the Corinthians' own start. 'Finish' is epiteleo, to bring to completion, the 'perform' of v.11. 'The same grace' is the collection of vv.4, 7.

Verse 7

see that ye abound in this grace also — 'Abound' is perisseuo, the verb used of the Macedonians in v.2. Paul lists the Corinthians' gifts: pistis, logos (utterance), gnosis, and spoude (diligence, 'forwardness' in v.8), and asks that giving be added to them.

Verse 8

I speak not by commandment — Epitage is an authoritative injunction. Paul offers counsel instead, as in 'I speak this by permission, and not of commandment' (1 Cor 7:6). He uses the 'forwardness' (spoude) of others 'to prove' (dokimazo, to test) the 'sincerity' (gnesios, genuine) of their love.

Verse 9

though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor — Ptocheuo is to become a beggar, and its noun is 'poverty'. The pattern is Christ, 'being in the form of God', who 'humbled himself' (Phil 2:6, 8). The exchange is his poverty for their riches (plouteo, to be made wealthy).

Verse 10

herein I give my advice — Gnome is an opinion or considered judgment, the word of 'I give my judgment' (1 Cor 7:25). The Corinthians had been first both 'to do' and 'to be forward' (thelo, to will) 'a year ago' (perysi); Paul repeats this to Macedonia (2 Cor 9:2).

Verse 12

a willing mind — Prothymia, readiness, the word of 'readiness to will' in v.11. 'Accepted' is euprosdektos, well received. The measure is what 'a man hath', as with the widow who 'of her want did cast in all that she had' (Mark 12:44).

Verse 14

by an equality — Isotes, fairness or balance. 'Abundance' (perisseuma) and 'want' (hysterema) are set against each other: the Corinthians' surplus now for Jerusalem's need, theirs later for Corinth's. The Gentiles owe a debt for 'their spiritual things' (Rom 15:27).

Verse 15

He that had gathered much had nothing over — Quoted from the manna: 'he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack' (Ex 16:18). The Greek verbs are pleonazo, to have more than enough, and elattoneo, to fall short. Paul applies the manna rule to the collection.

Verse 16

put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus — 'Earnest care' is spoude, the word of vv.7–8. 'Put' is didomi, to give, the verb 'bestowed' in v.1. Titus's concern for the Corinthians, like the Macedonians' liberality, is credited to God as its giver.

Verse 18

the brother, whose praise is in the gospel — Epainos, commendation. The brother is not named here; he is 'sent with' (sympempo) Titus, and another is added in v.22. Paul mentions 'a brother' sent with Titus again in 2 Cor 12:18. His 'gospel' praise is spread 'throughout all the churches'.

Verse 20

no man should blame us in this abundance — Momaomai is to find fault. 'Abundance' is hadrotes, the generous bulk of the gift. Paul avoids the charge by having a companion 'chosen of the churches' (v.19), as he had proposed in 1 Cor 16:3, so the money is 'administered' (diakoneo) openly.

Verse 21

Providing for honest things — Pronoeo is to take thought beforehand; 'honest' is kalos, fair or good. It is the rule of 'Provide things honest in the sight of all men' (Rom 12:17). Paul guards his conduct 'not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men'.

Verse 23

my partner and fellowhelper — Koinonos (sharer) and synergos (co-worker) describe Titus. The other brethren are 'messengers of the churches', apostoloi in the sense of delegates, as Epaphroditus is 'your messenger' (Phil 2:25). They are 'the glory of Christ' (doxa).

Verse 24

the proof of your love — Endeixis, evidence, from the verb 'shew ye' (endeiknymi). 'Before the churches' is literally toward the face (prosopon) of the churches. Paul's 'boasting' (kauchesis) of them had been made to Titus (2 Cor 7:14) and to Macedonia (2 Cor 9:2).