2 Corinthians 8:1

2 COR. 8

In this and the following chapters are found "the most complete instructions about church giving which the New Testament contains."[1] The principles to be respected in the discharge of this duty were outlined by Halley, as follows:

Though it is offering for charity, we presume the principles here stated should be the guide for churches in the taking of all of their offerings. The gifts should be voluntary, proportionate, systematic, and above reproach in the manner of their business administration.[2]

The outline of chapter 8 has respect to three reasons presented by Paul as motivation for the liberal giving which he suggested for the Corinthians: "The example of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:1-8), the example of Christ (9), and the requirements of honor (2 Corinthians 8:10-9:5)."[3]

[1] Henry H. Halley, Bible Handbook (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1927), p. 555.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Wick Broomall, Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 675.

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia; how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their deep joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. (2 Corinthians 8:1-2)

Christian paradoxes abound in these verses. What an astounding thing it is that "two of the loveliest flowers of Christian character, JOY and LIBERALITY,"[4] should bloom in the Macedonian poverty fields. Their poverty was extreme and unusual in an age when poverty was almost universal. McGarvey pointed out that:

Macedonia had suffered in three wars, and had been reduced to such poverty that Tiberius Caesar, hearkening to their petitions, had lightened their taxes. But in addition to this general poverty, the churches had been made poor by persecution (2 Thessalonians 1:4).[5]

Macknight saw in Paul's mention of other people's poverty in this letter to Corinth, "A delicate insinuation that the more opulent Corinthians should equal or exceed what had been given by the Macedonians."[6] The afflictions of the Macedonians had been aggravated from the very first declaration of the gospel among them by those unreconciled elements in Judaism who had sent their emissaries throughout Macedonia in order to harass and hinder Paul's preaching; and, as Farrar said, "This had excited the hatred of the Gentiles toward Christianity."[7] In this connection, see Acts 16:20; 17:5,13.

The collection that Paul had in mind here was for the poor Christians in Jerusalem, although the destination of the funds is not stressed.

The joy and liberality demonstrated by the Macedonians sprang from their consciousness of the forgiveness of their sins and the pure happiness of restored fellowship with God. Their liberality was a spontaneous expression of that joy.

Liberality ... The English Revised Version (1885) margin gives this word as "singleness." Tasker explained this thus:

The word translated "liberality," [@haplotes], means simplicity or single-mindedness; and, as in Romans 12:8, it refers to giving which was uncalculating and free from ulterior motives.[8]

[4] R. V. G. Tasker, The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1958), p. 111.

[5] J. W. McGarvey, Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Cincinnati, Ohio: The Standard Publishing Company, 1916), p. 210.

[6] James Macknight, Apostolical Epistles and Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1969), Vol. II, p. 396.

[7] J. W. Farrar, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), Vol. 19,2Cor., p. 195.

[8] R. V. G. Tasker, op. cit., p. 112.