2Cor 8:1, 9:2, 12 | Barnes | STEP | Introduction of 2nd Corinthians Chapter 8 IN the previous chapter the apostle had expressed his entire confidence in the ready obedience, of the Corinthians in all things. To this confidence he had been led by the promptitude with which they had complied with his commands in regard to the case of discipline there, and by the respect which they had shown to Titus, whom he had sent to them. All that he had ever said in their favour had been realized; all that had ever been asked of them had been accomplished. The object of his Statement in the close of seems to have been to excite them to diligence in completing the collection which they had begun for the poor and afflicted saints of Judea. On the consideration of that subject, which lay so near his heart, he now enters; and this chapter and the following are occupied with suggesting arguments and giving directions for a liberal contribution. Paul had given directions for taking up this collection in the first epistle. See , seq. Comp. . This collection he had given Titus direction to take up when he went to Corinth. See . But from some cause it had not been completed, . What that cause was, is not stated; but it may have been possibly the disturbances which had existed there, or the opposition of the enemies of Paul, or the attention which was necessarily bestowed in regulating the affairs of the church. But in order that the contribution might be made, and might be a liberal one, Paul presses on their attention several considerations designed to excite them to give freely. The chapter is, therefore, of importance to us, as it is a statement of the duty of giving liberally to the cause of benevolence, and of the motives by which it should be done. In the presentation of this subject, Paul urges upon them the following considerations: He appeals to the very liberal example of the churches of Macedonia, where, though they were exceedingly poor, they had contributed with great cheerfulness and liberality to the object, . From their example he had been induced to desire Titus to lay the subject before the church at Corinth, and to finish the collection which he had begun, . He directs them to abound in this, not as a matter of commandment, but excited by the example of others, . He appeals to them by the love of the Saviour; reminds them that though he was rich, yet he became poor, and that they were bound to imitate his example, . He reminds them of their intention to make such a contribution, and of the effort which they had made a year before; and though they had been embarrassed in it, and might find it difficult still to give as much as they had intended, or as much as they would wish, still it would be acceptable to God. For if there was a willing mind, God accepted the offering, . He assures them that it was not his wish to burden or oppress them. All that he desired was that there should be an equality in all the churches, . To show them how much he was interested in this, he thanks God that he had put it into the heart of Titus to engage in it. And in order more effectually to secure it, he says that he had sent with Titus a brother who was well known, and whose praise was in all the churches. He had done this in order that the churches might have entire confidence that the contribution would be properly distributed. Paul did not wish it to be intrusted to himself. He would leave no room for suspicion in regard to his own character; he would furnish the utmost security to the churches that their wishes were complied with. He desired to act honestly not only in the sight of the Lord, but to furnish evidence of his entire honesty to men, . To secure the same object he had also sent another brother; and these three brethren he felt willing to recommend as faithful and tried--as men in whom the church at Corinth might repose the utmost confidence, . Verse 1. Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit . We make known to you; we inform you. The phrase, "we do you to Wit," is used in Tindal's translation, and means, "we cause you to know." The purpose for which Paul informed them of the liberality of the churches of Macedonia was to excite them to similar liberality. Of the grace of God , etc. The favour which God had shown them in exciting a spirit of liberality, and in enabling them to contribute to the fund for supplying the wants of the poor saints at Jerusalem. The word "grace" (χαριν) is sometimes used in the sense of gift, and the phrase "gift of God" some have supposed mast mean very great gift, where the words "of God" may be designed to mark anything very eminent or excellent, as in the phrase "cedars of God," "mountains of God," denoting very great cedars, very great mountains. Some critics (as Macknight, Bloomfield, Locke, and others) have supposed that this means that the churches of Macedonia had been able to contribute largely to the aid of the saints at Judea. But the more obvious and correct interpretation, as I apprehend, is that which is implied in the common version, that the phrase "grace of God" means that God had bestowed on them grace to give according to their ability in this cause. According to this it is implied, (1.) that a disposition to contribute to the cause of benevolence is to be traced to God. He is its Author. He excites it. It is not a plant of native growth in the human heart; but a large and liberal spirit of benevolence is one of the effects of his grace, and is to be traced to him. (2.) It is a favour bestowed on a church when God excites in it a spirit of benevolence. It is one of the evidences of his love. And indeed there cannot be a higher proof of the favour of God, than when by his grace he inclines and enables us to contribute largely to meliorate the condition, and to alleviate the wants of our fellow-men. Perhaps the apostle here meant delicately to hint this. He did not therefore say coldly that the churches of Macedonia had contributed to this object, but he speaks of it as a favour shown to them by God that they were able to do it. And he meant, probably, gently to intimate to the Corinthians that it would be an evidence that they were enjoying the favour of God, if they should contribute in like manner. The churches of Macedonia . Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea. For an account of Macedonia, ; . Of these churches, that at Philippi seems to have been most distinguished for liberality, ( ,) though it is probable that other churches contributed according to their ability, as they are commended (comp. ) without distinction. (*) "to wit" "We make known to you" (a) "churches of Macedonia"

2 Corinthians 8:1

Introduction of 2nd Corinthians Chapter 8

IN the previous chapter the apostle had expressed his entire confidence in the ready obedience, of the Corinthians in all things. To this confidence he had been led by the promptitude with which they had complied with his commands in regard to the case of discipline there, and by the respect which they had shown to Titus, whom he had sent to them. All that he had ever said in their favour had been realized; all that had ever been asked of them had been accomplished. The object of his Statement in the close of 2Cor 7 seems to have been to excite them to diligence in completing the collection which they had begun for the poor and afflicted saints of Judea. On the consideration of that subject, which lay so near his heart, he now enters; and this chapter and the following are occupied with suggesting arguments and giving directions for a liberal contribution.

Paul had given directions for taking up this collection in the first epistle. See 2Cor 8:1, seq. Comp. Rom 15:26. This collection he had given Titus direction to take up when he went to Corinth. See 2Cor 8:6-17. But from some cause it had not been completed, 2Cor 8:10,11. What that cause was, is not stated; but it may have been possibly the disturbances which had existed there, or the opposition of the enemies of Paul, or the attention which was necessarily bestowed in regulating the affairs of the church. But in order that the contribution might be made, and might be a liberal one, Paul presses on their attention several considerations designed to excite them to give freely. The chapter is, therefore, of importance to us, as it is a statement of the duty of giving liberally to the cause of benevolence, and of the motives by which it should be done. In the presentation of this subject, Paul urges upon them the following considerations:

He appeals to the very liberal example of the churches of Macedonia, where, though they were exceedingly poor, they had contributed with great cheerfulness and liberality to the object, 2Cor 8:1-5.

From their example he had been induced to desire Titus to lay the subject before the church at Corinth, and to finish the collection which he had begun, 2Cor 8:6.

He directs them to abound in this, not as a matter of commandment, but excited by the example of others, 2Cor 8:7,8.

He appeals to them by the love of the Saviour; reminds them that though he was rich, yet he became poor, and that they were bound to imitate his example, 2Cor 8:9.

He reminds them of their intention to make such a contribution, and of the effort which they had made a year before; and though they had been embarrassed in it, and might find it difficult still to give as much as they had intended, or as much as they would wish, still it would be acceptable to God. For if there was a willing mind, God accepted the offering,2Cor 8:10-12.

He assures them that it was not his wish to burden or oppress them. All that he desired was that there should be an equality in all the churches, 2Cor 8:13-15.

To show them how much he was interested in this, he thanks God that he had put it into the heart of Titus to engage in it. And in order more effectually to secure it, he says that he had sent with Titus a brother who was well known, and whose praise was in all the churches. He had done this in order that the churches might have entire confidence that the contribution would be properly distributed. Paul did not wish it to be intrusted to himself. He would leave no room for suspicion in regard to his own character; he would furnish the utmost security to the churches that their wishes were complied with. He desired to act honestly not only in the sight of the Lord, but to furnish evidence of his entire honesty to men, 2Cor 8:16-21.

To secure the same object he had also sent another brother; and these three brethren he felt willing to recommend as faithful and tried--as men in whom the church at Corinth might repose the utmost confidence, 2Cor 8:22-24.

Verse 1. Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit. We make known to you; we inform you. The phrase, "we do you to Wit," is used in Tindal's translation, and means, "we cause you to know." The purpose for which Paul informed them of the liberality of the churches of Macedonia was to excite them to similar liberality.

Of the grace of God, etc. The favour which God had shown them in exciting a spirit of liberality, and in enabling them to contribute to the fund for supplying the wants of the poor saints at Jerusalem. The word "grace" (χαριν) is sometimes used in the sense of gift, and the phrase "gift of God" some have supposed mast mean very great gift, where the words "of God" may be designed to mark anything very eminent or excellent, as in the phrase "cedars of God," "mountains of God," denoting very great cedars, very great mountains. Some critics (as Macknight, Bloomfield, Locke, and others) have supposed that this means that the churches of Macedonia had been able to contribute largely to the aid of the saints at Judea. But the more obvious and correct interpretation, as I apprehend, is that which is implied in the common version, that the phrase "grace of God" means that God had bestowed on them grace to give according to their ability in this cause. According to this it is implied,

(1.) that a disposition to contribute to the cause of benevolence is to be traced to God. He is its Author. He excites it. It is not a plant of native growth in the human heart; but a large and liberal spirit of benevolence is one of the effects of his grace, and is to be traced to him.

(2.) It is a favour bestowed on a church when God excites in it a spirit of benevolence. It is one of the evidences of his love. And indeed there cannot be a higher proof of the favour of God, than when by his grace he inclines and enables us to contribute largely to meliorate the condition, and to alleviate the wants of our fellow-men. Perhaps the apostle here meant delicately to hint this. He did not therefore say coldly that the churches of Macedonia had contributed to this object, but he speaks of it as a favour shown to them by God that they were able to do it. And he meant, probably, gently to intimate to the Corinthians that it would be an evidence that they were enjoying the favour of God, if they should contribute in like manner.

The churches of Macedonia. Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea. For an account of Macedonia, Acts 16:9; Rom 15:26. Of these churches, that at Philippi seems to have been most distinguished for liberality, (Php 4:10,15,16,18,) though it is probable that other churches contributed according to their ability, as they are commended (comp. 2Cor 9:2) without distinction.

(*) "to wit" "We make known to you" (a) "churches of Macedonia" 2Cor 9:2,4

2 Corinthians 9:2

Verse 2. For I know the forwardness of your mind. I know your promptitude, or your readiness to do it. See 2Cor 8:10. Probably Paul here means that he had had opportunity before of witnessing their readiness to do good, and that he had learned in particular of Titus that they had formed the plan to aid in this contribution.

For which I boast of you to them of Macedonia. To the church in Macedonia. See 2Cor 8:1. So well assured was he that the church at Corinth would make the collection as it had proposed, that he boasted of it to the churches of Macedonia as if it were already done, and made use of this as an argument to stimulate them to make an effort.

That Achaia was ready a year ago. Achaia was that part of Greece of which Corinth was the capital. Acts 18:12. It is probable that there were Christians in other parts of Achaia besides Corinth, and indeed it is known that there was a church in Cenchrea, (see Rom 16:1,) which was one of the ports of Corinth. Though the contribution would be chiefly derived from Corinth, yet it is, probable that, the others also would participate in it. The phrase was ready means that they had been preparing themselves for this collection, and doubtless Paul had stated that the collection was already made and was waiting. He had directed them (1Cor 16:1) to make it on the first day of the week, and to lay it by in store, and he did not doubt that they had complied with his request.

And your zeal. Your ardour and promptitude. The readiness with which you entered into this subject, and your desire to relieve the wants of others.

Hath provoked. Has roused, excited, impelled to give. We use the word provoke commonly now in the sense of to irritate, but in the Scriptures it is confined to the signification of exciting, or rousing. The ardour of the Corinthians would excite others, not only by their promptitude, but because Corinth was a splendid city, and their example would be looked up to by Christians at a distance. This is one instance of the effect which will be produced by the example of a church in a city.

2 Corinthians 9:12

Verse 12. For the administration of this service. The distribution of this proof of your liberality. The word service here, says Doddridge, intimates that this was to be regarded not merely as an act of humanity, but religion.

The want of the saints. Of the poor Christians in Judea on whose behalf it was contributed.

But is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God. Will abound unto God in producing thanksgivings. The result will be that it will produce abundant thanksgiving in their hearts to God.

(e) "the want of the saints" 2Cor 8:14