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2
Corinthians Chapter Eight
2 Corinthians 8
Chapter Contents
The apostle reminds them of charitable contributions for
the poor saints. (1-6) Enforces this by their gifts, and by the love and grace
of Christ. (7-9) By the willingness they had shown to this good work. (10-15)
He recommends Titus to them. (16-24)
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:1-6
(Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-6)
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 advantage, unless we first give
ourselves to the Lord. By ascribing all really good works to the grace of God,
we not only give the glory to him whose due it is, but also show men where
their strength is. Abundant spiritual joy enlarges men's hearts in the work and
labour of love. How different this from the conduct of those who will not join
in any good work, unless urged into it!
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:7-9
(Read 2 Corinthians 8:7-9)
Faith is the root; and as without faith it is not
possible to please God, Hebrews 11:6, so those who abound in faith, will
abound in other graces and good works also; and this will work and show itself
by love. Great talkers are not always the best doers; but these Corinthians
were diligent to do, as well as to know and talk well. To all these good things
the apostle desires them to add this grace also, to abound in charity to the
poor. The best arguments for Christian duties, are drawn from the grace and
love of Christ. Though he was rich, as being God, equal in power and glory with
the Father, yet he not only became man for us, but became poor also. At length
he emptied himself, as it were, to ransom their souls by his sacrifice on the
cross. From what riches, blessed Lord, to what poverty didst thou descend for
our sakes! and to what riches hast thou advanced us through thy poverty! It is
our happiness to be wholly at thy disposal.
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:10-15
(Read 2 Corinthians 8:10-15)
Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to
behold, and give hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing
without good deeds. Good beginnings are well; but we lose the benefit, unless
there is perseverance. When men purpose that which is good, and endeavour,
according to their ability, to perform also, God will not reject them for what
it is not in their power to do. But this scripture will not justify those who
think good meanings are enough, or that good purposes, and the mere profession
of a willing mind, are enough to save. Providence gives to some more of the
good things of this world, and to some less, that those who have abundance
might supply others who are in want. It is the will of God, that by our mutual
supplying one another, there should be some sort of equality; not such a
levelling as would destroy property, for in such a case there could be no
exercise of charity. All should think themselves concerned to relieve those in
want. This is shown from the gathering and giving out the manna in the
wilderness, Exodus 16:18. Those who have most of this world,
have no more than food and raiment; and those who have but little of this
world, seldom are quite without them.
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:16-24
(Read 2 Corinthians 8:16-24)
The apostle commends the brethren sent to collect their
charity, that it might be known who they were, and how safely they might be
trusted. It is the duty of all Christians to act prudently; to hinder, as far
as we can, all unjust suspicions. It is needful, in the first place, to act
uprightly in the sight of God, but things honest in the sight of men should
also be attended to. A clear character, as well as a pure conscience, is
requisite for usefulness. They brought glory to Christ as instruments, and had
obtained honour from Christ to be counted faithful, and employed in his
service. The good opinion others have of us, should be an argument with us to
do well.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians》
2 Corinthians 8
Verse 1
[1]
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the
churches of Macedonia;
We declare to you the grace of God — Which evidently appeared by this happy effect.
Verse 2
[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.
In a great trial of affliction — Being continually persecuted, harassed, and plundered.
Verse 4
[4]
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us
the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
Praying us with much entreaty — Probably St. Paul had lovingly admonished them not to do beyond their
power.
Verse 5
[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.
And not as we hoped —
That is, beyond all we could hope.
They gave themselves to us, by the will of
God — In obedience to his will, to be wholly
directed by us.
Verse 6
[6] Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also
finish in you the same grace also.
As he had begun —
When he was with you before.
Verse 9
[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.
For ye know —
And this knowledge is the true source of love.
The grace —
The most sincere, most free, and most abundant love.
He became poor — In
becoming man, in all his life; in his death.
Rich — In
the favour and image of God.
Verse 12
[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.
A man —
Every believer.
Is accepted —
With God.
According to what he hath — And the same rule holds universally. Whoever acknowledges himself to be
a vile, guilty sinner, and, in consequence of this acknowledgment, flies for
refuge to the wounds of a crucified Saviour, and relies on his merits alone for
salvation, may in every circumstance of life apply this indulgent declaration
to himself.
Verse 14
[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:
That their abundance — If need should so require.
May be — At
another time.
A supply to your want: that there may be an
equality — No want on one side, no superfluity on the
other. It may likewise have a further meaning:-that as the temporal bounty of
the Corinthians did now supply the temporal wants of their poor brethren in
Judea, so the prayers of these might be a means of bringing down many spiritual
blessings on their benefactors: so that all the spiritual wants of the one
might be amply supplied; all the temporal of the other.
Verse 15
[15] As
it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had
gathered little had no lack.
As it is written, He that had gathered the
most had nothing over; and he that had gathered the least did not lack — That is, in which that scripture is in another sense fulfilled. Exodus 16:18
Verse 17
[17] For
indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord
he went unto you.
Being more forward —
Than to need it, though he received it well.
Verse 18
[18] And
we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all
the churches;
We — I and Timothy.
The brother —
The ancients generally supposed this was St. Luke.
Whose praise —
For faithfully dispensing the gospel, is through all the churches.
Verse 19
[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:
He was appointed by the churches — Of Macedonia.
With this gift —
Which they were carrying from Macedonia to Jerusalem.
For the declaration of our ready mind — That of Paul and his fellow-traveller, ready to be the servants of all.
Verse 22
[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.
With them —
With Titus and Luke.
Our brother —
Perhaps Apollos.
Verse 23
[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.
My partner — In
my cares and labours.
The glory of Christ —
Signal instruments of advancing his glory.
Verse 24
[24]
Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and
of our boasting on your behalf.
Before the churches —
Present by their messengers.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 2 Corinthians》
Chapter 8. In Rich Generosity
He Who Gathered
Much Did Not Have Too Much
He Who Gathered Little Did Not Have Too Little
I. Testimony of
the Macedonians
II. Follow the
Example of Christ
III. Titus
Works for the Offering
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
Chapter Eight General Review
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To see how Paul motivated others in their giving 2) To ascertain what principles ought to govern our giving 3) To appreciate the honorable manner in which Paul handled the collection for needy saints SUMMARY
At this point Paul addresses an issue that occupied much of his interest during his missionary journeys: the collection for the needyChristians in Judea (cf. Ga 2:9-10; Ro 15:25-28; 1 Co 16:1-2). In thisletter, two entire chapters are devoted to the subject. He begins by mentioning the churches in Macedonia trial of affliction and their own deep poverty, their abundance of joyand eagerness to participate in this ministry resulted in great liberality (1-5). Having sent Titus to assist the Corinthians in carrying through with their own desire to give, Paul exhorts them not only by the example ofthe Macedonians but by the example of Jesus Christ (6-9). Since it is to their advantage that they complete what they began a year earlier,Paul reminds them of the principles that ought to govern their giving.These principles involve willingness, ability, and equality (10-15). In an effort to do everything honorable in the sight of others, the collection is to be handled by three men other than Paul. Titus is one, but the other two men are unnamed. However, they are well knownand proven in their service to the Lord. Paul encourages theCorinthians to demonstrate to these men and to all the churches theproof of their love in this collection and that Paul's boasting about the church in Corinth OUTLINE