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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 8:1-6

1-6 The grace of God must be owned as the root and fountain of all the good in us, or done by us, at any time. It is great grace and favour from God, if we are made useful to others, and forward to any good work. He commends the charity of the Macedonians. So far from needing that Paul should urge them, they prayed him to receive the gift. Whatever we use or lay out for God, it is only giving him what is his own. All we give for charitable uses, will not be accepted of God, nor turn to our... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:1-99

2Co 8 HAVING OPENED HIS HEART to the Corinthians, both as to his own experiences and as to their need of separation from the world of unbelievers, and having expressed his joy in their obedience to the Word of God, and the confidence as to them which this gave him, Paul now felt ready to write to them more particularly concerning the collection then being made amongst the various Gentile assemblies for the benefit of poor saints in Jerusalem. He had alluded to it briefly in the closing chapter... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 2 Corinthians 8:1-6

Paul's Tactful Appeal and Recommendation. The example of the Macedonian churches: v. 1. brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia, v. 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. v. 3. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves, v. 4. praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

XIV.—AN EXHORTATION TO FINISH IT. MOTIVE: THE EXAMPLE OF THE MACEDONIAN CHURCHES; AS A PROOF OF THEIR LOVE IN GIVING THEMSELVES TO CHRIST. PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY. COMMENDATION OF TITUS, AND HIS COMPANIONS IN THIS WORK2 Corinthians 8:1-241Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of [we make known to you] the grace of2God [which has been] bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How [om. how] that in a great trial of affliction, [was] the abundance of their joy [;] and their deep poverty 3abounded unto... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - 2 Corinthians 8:1-12

2 Corinthians GIVING AND ASKING 2Co_8:1-12 . A collection from Gentile churches for their poor brethren in Jerusalem occupied much of Paul’s time and efforts before his last visit to that city. Many events, which have filled the world with noise and been written at length in histories, were less significant than that first outcome of the unifying spirit of common faith. It was a making visible of the grand thought, ‘Ye are all one in Christ Jesus.’ Practical help, prompted by a deep-lying... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Stimulating to Liberality 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Surely the plea for a generous gift of money toward the collection which Paul was making for the poor saints in Jerusalem, could not have been more tenderly and convincingly urged than it is urged here. He begins by mentioning the generosity of the Christians in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, who were very poor, the inference being that the wealthier Corinthians would make similar sacrifices. He quotes the example of the Lord Jesus, who made... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

The apostle now turned to the subject of the collection for the saints at Jerusalem, concerning which he had written in his previous letter ( 1Co 16:1-24 ). He cites the example of the churches in Macedonia. They gave themselves (1) to the Lord, (2) to the apostles and fellow saints. This action of the Macedonian Christians is in harmony with the Spirit of the Christ. While careful to tell them that he is not speaking by way of commandment, he yet gives them his judgment, and it is that as... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

The Grace of Giving 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Our Lord lifts Christian liberality out of the mire of coercive necessity, into the realm of grace. As introductory to this sermon on giving, we will show this Divine conception, and discuss "giving" in its relation to grace. 1. In 2 Corinthians 8:1 giving is spoken of as the grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia. We all know what God's grace toward us was. It was unmerited favor, freely bestowed. Among certain saints,... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

A PLEA CONCERNING THE PAYING OF THEIR ‘DEBT’ TO THE JERUSALEM CHURCH BY MEANS OF ‘THE COLLECTION’ WHICH WAS TO BE FOR THE RELIEF OF THE EXTREME POVERTY OF THE SAINTS IN THAT CHURCH AND WHICH WOULD ITSELF BE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE FORWARD GOING OF THE OVERALL PURPOSES OF GOD (2 Corinthians 8:1 to 2 Corinthians 9:15 ). This next section of the letter deals with Paul’s activities in collecting money for "the poor among the saints in Jerusalem" (Romans 15:26). He had declared his great concern... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 8:3-4

‘For according to their power, I bear witness, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints.’ For they gave as much as they could afford, indeed more than they could afford, and they not only did it freely, they actually begged to be allowed to give it in order to serve those in even greater need than themselves. This suggests that at first Paul was reluctant to take it... read more

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