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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