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2 Corinthians 8

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The Generosity of the Macedonians 1–6

1
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; ​
2
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. ​
3
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. ​
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. ​
6
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. ​

Exhortation to Abound in Giving 7–8

7
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. ​
8
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity 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 be rich. ​
10
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. ​
11
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. ​
13
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14
But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: ​
15
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. ​

Accountability and the Messengers 16–24

16
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. ​
17
For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18
And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; ​
19
And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
20
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: ​
21
Providing for honest things, 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 oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
23
Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. ​
24
Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · 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).