Bringing what they had freely collected amongst themselves to the apostles, and importuning them to receive it at their hands, and to take upon them the work of distributing it. read more
CRITICAL NOTESObserve: 1. 2 Corinthians 8:1 to 2 Corinthians 9:15 is one continuous section, concerned with the completion of the Corinthian contribution to Paul’s great Jerusalem Christian Poor Relief Fund. Mentioned 1 Corinthians 16:1. where see for this Collection generally. 2. The section is characterised by a specialised use of χάρις (= grace, generally, but here also) “gift,” or “bounty,” as in 1 Corinthians 16:3 (2 Corinthians 8:1; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 8:6-7; 2 Corinthians... read more
DISCOURSE: 2032LIBERALITY TO THE POOR2 Corinthians 8:1-5. Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying its with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering... read more
Chapter 8Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit [or we would bring to your remembrance] of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality ( 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 ).And so, though they were impoverished themselves, they were extremely liberal. They say that poor people usually give much more to the poor than do wealthy people, because the poor people... read more
2 Corinthians 8:1 . Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God. Better to say, It is requisite that I should apprise you of the grace that God has conferred on the churches of Macedonia. Though planted but a few years before, they stood and flourished in every grace; and now their laudable contributions were extended to the poor of distant churches. Truly, he that loveth not, knoweth not God. Worthily are all those fine elucidations of the heart, and liberalities called “the... read more
2 Corinthians 8:1-5The grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia.The grace of liberalityI. True liberality is a Christian grace--as truly a grace as knowledge, diligence, and love. What light this throws upon the whole subject of church finances!1. Failing to see that liberality is a grace, we have made it a burden. As a grace in the heart, liberality struggles for an outlet in acts of benevolence; as a duty or a burden, it needs to be urged. Hence all this claptrap machinery for... read more
2 Corinthians 8:2-4How that in a great trial … the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty.The poverty of the MacedoniansThe condition of Greece in the time of Augustus was one of desolation and distress. It had suffered severely by being the seat of the successive civil wars between Caesar and Pompey, between the Triumvirs and Brutus and Cassius, and, lastly, between Augustus and Antonius. Besides, the country had never recovered from the long series of miseries which had succeeded and... read more
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. Ver. 4. Receive the gift ] Gr. χαριν , the grace, i.e. the alms; it being of God’s free grace that we have, 1. What to give; 2. Hearts to give it. For naturally we are all like children, which though they have their bosoms, mouths, and both hands full, yet are loth to part with any. read more
that: 2 Corinthians 8:18, 2 Corinthians 8:19, Genesis 33:10, Genesis 33:11, 2 Kings 5:15, 2 Kings 5:16, Acts 16:15, 1 Corinthians 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:4 the ministering: 2 Corinthians 9:1, 2 Corinthians 9:12-2 Chronicles :, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 12:50, Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:44, Matthew 25:45, Mark 14:7, John 19:26, John 19:27, Acts 6:1-Judges :, Acts 9:39-Mark :, Acts 11:29, Acts 24:17, Romans 15:25, Romans 15:26, 1 Corinthians 16:1, 1 Corinthians 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:4, 1... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
2 Corinthians 8, 9. The Collection for Poor Christians at Jerusalem.— Paul attached the highest importance to this collection, to which he seems to have invited all the Gentile churches to contribute. He valued it not merely for the relief it would bring to the deep poverty of the Christians at Jerusalem, but also as a means of eliciting generosity in the churches to which he appealed, and as a symbol of that binding unity in which all” the churches of God in Christ “ were held together. He... read more