The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
2 Corinthians 8
Chapter VIII · Vol. IV, pp. 380–381
1 He stirreth them up to a liberal contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem, by the example of the Macedonians, 7 by commendation of their former forwardness, 9 by the example of Christ, 14 and by the spiritual profit that shall redound to themselves thereby: 16 commending to them the integrity and willingness of Titus, and those other brethren, who upon his request, exhortation, and commendation, were purposely come to them for this business.
1 Moreover, brethren, 1we do you to wit2 of athe grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;Cited in WCF 26.2 · HC 103
2 How that, bin a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.3
4 Praying us with much entreaty dthat we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
d Ac.11.29. Ro.15.25,26. 1 Co.16.1. ch.9.1. He.6.10.
5 Ande this they did, not as we hoped,4 butg first gave their ownselves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6 Insomuchh that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same igrace5 also.
7 Therefore, as ye jabound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace6 also.
j 1 Co.1.5;xii.xiv.ch.7.7,11. Phi.1.9-11.
6 This grace—of giving to others as God has given to you.—C.
8 Ik speak not by commandment,7 but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
k 1 Co.7.6,12,25,40. Phi.4.11,14-18. ver.24.
7 Not by commandment. Not as of a thing that must, but as of a thing that should, be done, from love to Christ and his church, and not from mere apostolic authority or any worldly motive.—C.
9 For lye 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.Cited in WSC 27 · WLC 46
10 Andn herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward8 a year ago.9
n See ver.8. Pr.19.17. Mat.10.42. He.13.16. ch.9.2;ver.11. 1 Co.16.2. 1 Ti.6.18,19. Ja.2.15,16.
8 Gr. willing.
9 The meaning is as follows:—Paul had given directions in his former epistle that the collection for the poor Christians in Judea should be taken up as soon as possible. On meeting Titus he learned that it had not yet been completed, though the churches of Macedonia, which were much poorer than that of Corinth, had long since given their contribution. He now presses the subject on the Corinthians, not giving any authoritative command, but simply an earnest recommendation. He says:—'I give my advice (as distinguished from a command) in regard to this matter. For this is expedient for you (i.e. for such as they were it was better to give an advice than a command, seeing that you began (to make the collection) before them (the Macedonians), not only to do, but also the will to do, from a year ago,' i.e. you anticipated the Macedonians not only in your first action, but in your purpose to act.—P.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For oif there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.Cited in WCF 16.6
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance1 also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
1 The apostle seems to refer to a well-known fact in the statistics of commerce—the alternate depressions and resuscitations of trade in different cities and countries—the prosperity of one place being often contemporaneous with the calamity of another. And upon this he grounds his appeal to the Corinthians, whose trade seems then to have been prosperous, while that of Macedonia was depressed; and he reminds them that the time may come when the revival of trade in Macedonia may enable them to supply the deficiencies from depression in Corinth.—C.
15 As it is written, qHe that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
17 Fors indeed he accepted the exhortation, but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
s ch.12.18;ver.6,16. 1 Ch.29.2,3,6.
18 And we have sent with him tthe 2brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
t ch.12.18;ver.22,23. Ac.15.22,25.
2 Who this was is uncertain. Most think it was Luke. But it matters not—his name is unknown to men, but his record is with God.—C.
u 1 Co.16.3,4.
19 And not that only, but who was also uchosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace,3 which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
3 Or, gift. See ver.1,4,6; ch.4.15;7.14,20; 9.1,5,9,12,13. Phi.4.15-18.
20 Avoidingv this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
v 1 Co.16.3,4. Mat.10.16. Ep.5.15.
22 And we have sent with them our 4brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have5 in you.
4 Another unknown person, by some thought to be Apollos, who had previously been indisposed to go, 1 Co.16.12.—C.
A.M. cir. 4064. A.D. cir. 60.
5 Or, he hath.
23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, yhe is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.6
y ch.7.6;12.18. Phi.2.25. Jn.15.8.
6 In the second clause of this verse Paul speaks of 'the messengers of the churches;' in the Greek it is 'the apostles of the churches;' i.e. those who were commissioned by the churches to do a certain work. It will be observed that they are called 'the apostles of the churches,' not 'the apostles of the Lord.' The concluding phrase, 'the glory of Christ,' is intended to be descriptive of these apostles; they were men whose labours tended to promote the kingdom of Christ.—P.
Notes
Ver. 1. Being thus confident of your distinguished love and regard, I must again recommend to your Christian compassion the poor saints at Jerusalem ; and for your excitement inform you that the powerful influence of God's grace hath determined the Christians of Macedonia to make a very liberal collection for them. 2,3. And that, notwithstanding their own grievous persecutions and deep poverty they have, with uncommon generosity and gladness, bestowed their part, not only answerable to but even beyond their ability. 4. Yea, so far were they from needing any excitement from me or my fellow-ministers, that they importunately urged us to accept their free-will offering, and take the trouble of conveying and distributing it to their poor brethren. 5. And this they did with the greatest cheerfulness and generosity that could be expected; and not merely so, but, acting herein upon truly religious principles, before they put their contributions into our hands, they made a joint and solemn surrender of themselves and all that they had to the honour, service, influence, government, and disposal of the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Head, Saviour, and King; and then, according to the will and directing influence of God, to us as his servants, to conduct them in their spiritual concerns according to the rules of his Word. 6. This their excellent behaviour made us to entreat Titus, our fellow-minister of Christ, who had been so acceptable among you, and had begun your charitable collections, to return to you, and, by his advices and encouragements, to complete them. 7. And as many of you, by the grace of God, are remarkable in the knowledge and faith of gospel mysteries, in eloquence of speech, in earnest endeavours to reform your church, in your affectionate regard to faithful ministers, and in other excellencies, I beg and hope that ye will proportionally abound in this grace of Christian benevolence. 8. And as I mean that it should be wholly a free gift, I lay no command upon you, nor impose any particular sum: but wish that, by showing yourselves equally forward with your poor brethren of Macedonia, ye may give further proof of your love to me and to the saints, and especially to Christ, in imitation of and thankful return for his unparalleled and endearing love towards you. 9. For by infallible information and your own experience ye know the astonishing favour, love, and bounty of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who, though he was the eternal Son of God, possessed of all the riches, glory, and blessedness of the Godhead, and rightful proprietor of all the riches of the universe, yet, to effect your salvation, assumed our nature in a most debased and impoverished condition, vailed his divine glory, and submitted to poverty, meanness, and suffering, that by this means ye might be enriched with all the abundant blessings of grace and glory, and even with those temporal benefits which ye enjoy in a spiritual state. 10, 11. Affected with his engaging example, I expect that ye will now complete and put into one sum the collections which ye began to lay by you about a year ago when ye received my former epistle. 12. For wherever there is a cheerful and determined inclination to acts of benevolence, and sincere contrivances and endeavours to be able to distribute somewhat to the glory of God and the necessities of his people, it is acceptable not only to ministers and churches, but even to Christ himself, be it more or less, if answerable to men's circumstances and abilities. 13. For I do not wish that ye should reduce yourselves to poverty by giving too largely to the enriching of these poor saints in Judea, nor that the whole burden of supplying them should fall on you, to ease or excuse other churches that are able to assist in it; 14. But I am desirous that this time ye, out of your abundance, should supply their extreme necessities, that if ever, by the providence of God, ye should be reduced to like straits, they or others may be able and inclined to supply your need: 15. Of which brotherly communication we have an agreeable example in the Israelites' distribution of the manna, giving whatever they gathered more than enough for themselves to such as, through age and infirmity, could not gather what was sufficient for their daily support. 16, 17. And blessed be God that he hath inspired our beloved brother Titus with the same fervent zeal as myself to engage you in this excellent service, for your own profit as well as the relief of the poor Jews; and indeed such was his abundant affection for you and zeal for this work, that he scarcely needed to be urged to promote it. 18, 19. And I and my brethren who are concerned in it have sent along with him on the same errand another eminent minister of great repute in the churches for his insight into the gospel, and his zeal, faithfulness, and diligence in promoting the interests of it; and who hath been chosen by the churches here to attend and assist us in distributing their collection to the poor Christians in Judea, to the honour of Christ and of all the cheerful contributors: 20, 21. We being desirous to have some other respectable ministers of Christ joined with us in bearing and distributing these large collections, that none might have occasion to suspect we had embezzled or misapplied any part of them; for we wish to execute this important trust in such a manner as may approve itself not only to God, who knows our hearts and ways, but also to the consciences of all mankind, whether friends or foes, who may observe our conduct. 22. And with these two brethren we have sent a third, of whose activity and faithfulness we have had the strongest proofs; and who, from the commendations of you which he hath heard from me, will exert himself to the utmost to complete your honourable liberality. 23. If any strangers desire to know the character of these three brethren, let them understand that Titus is my assistant in everything relating to your comfort and edification, and that of other Christians: and that the other two are approved messengers of the churches here in Macedonia, who also have been greatly instrumental in promoting the glory and honour of Christ. 24. Receive them therefore in such a respectful manner as will manifest to them and to the churches your love to Christ, to them and to me, and to the poor Jewish saints; and show that my boasting of you as a generous, faithful, and kind people hath been perfectly just and well-grounded.
Reflections.—What an excellent virtue is Christian benevolence! Wrought in us by the power of divine grace, it proves the sincerity of our love to Christ, and to his members for his sake. It is a delightful imitation of him in his redeeming kindness, and never fails to turn out to men's own advantage. But it is shameful to be outdone in it by persons poorer than ourselves. —It is highly honourable for professors first solemnly to give up themselves to Jesus Christ as his members and subjects, and, in consequence thereof, to the direction of his faithful ministers.—And happy is it when everything in charitable benevolence or other church matters is managed with such prudence, faithfulness, and disinterestedness as leaves not the least ground for a suspicion of fraud, partiality, or selfishness, and when ministers and saints so behave as to be generally beloved and extensively commended.