2 Corinthians 8:3

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; THEY (WERE) WILLING - rather supply from , 'According to their power ... yea, and beyond their power, THEY GAVE. OF THEMSELVES - not only not being besought, but voluntarily beseeching us. Verse 4. THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE - omitted in 'Aleph (') B C Delta G f g, Vulgate. 'Beseeching of us ... the grace and fellowship of (i:e., to grant them the favour of sharing in) the ministering unto the saints.' The Macedonian contributions must have been from Philippi, because it was the only church that contributed to Paul's support (; Philippians 4:15...

3._To their power, and even beyond their power. _When he says that they were _willing of themselves, _he means that they were, of their own accord, so well prepared for the duty, that they needed no exhortation. It was a great thing — to strive up to the measure of their ability; and hence, to exert themselves _beyond _their ability, showed a rare, and truly admirable excellence. (663) Now he speaks according to the common custom of men, for the common rule of doing good is that which Solomon prescribes, (Proverbs 5:15) — to drink water out of our own fountains, and let the rivulets go past, that they may flow onwards to others. (664) The Macedonians, on the other hand, making no account of themselves, and almost losing sight of themselves, concerned themselves rather as to providing for others

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!...

Verse 2 Corinthians 8:3. _FOR TO_ THEIR _POWER_, C.] In their liberality they had no _rule_ but their ability they believed they were bound to contribute all they could; and even this rule they transgressed, for they went _beyond their power_-they deprived themselves for a time of the _necessaries of life_, in order to give to others who were destitute even of _necessaries_....

FOR TO THEIR POWER - To the utmost of their ability. I BEAR RECORD - Paul had founded those churches and had spent much time with them. He was therefore well qualified to bear testimony in regard to their condition. YEA, AND BEYOND THEIR POWER - Beyond what could have been expected; or beyond what it would have been thought possible in their condition. Doddridge remarks that this is a noble hyperbole, similar to that used by Demosthenes when he says, “I have performed all, even with an industry beyond my power.” The sense is, they were willing to give more than they were well able. It shows the strong interest which they had in the subject, and the anxious desire which they had to relieve the needs of others. OF THEMSELVES - (αὐθαίρεται authairetai). Acting fro

EXPOSITION Liberality shown by the Macedonian Churches (2 Corinthians 8:1). He is sending Titus to receive their contribution for the Church of Jerusalem, and he invites them to give according to their power (verses 6-15). Recommendation of Titus and the other delegates (verses 16-24). These two chapters (8 and 9) form an independent section of the Epistle. The _plural _alone ("we") is used throughout; participial and unfinished constructions abound; the style is a little embarrassed; and various words, such as "grace," "blessing," "righteousness," "simplicity," occur in somewhat unusual shades of meaning. All this arises: 1. From St. Paul's natural delicacy in alluding to pecuniary subjects. 2. From a desire to conciliate the Corinthians, while at the same time he cannot conceal from them a little apprehen

FOR TO [THEIR] POWER, I BEAR RECORD,.... They gave according to their ability, to the utmost of it, which is the most that can be desired, or be given; for no man can give more than he has, nor is he required to do more than he is able: YEA, AND BEYOND THEIR POWER THEY WERE WILLING OF THEMSELVES; not that they did or could do beyond their power; but they were "willing" beyond their power; their hearts were larger than their purses; they would gladly have done more than they had ability to do; and to this the apostle bears testimony to give it credit, which otherwise might have been called in question: and it is to be observed, that these churches communicated in this cheerful manner and large way, considering their circumstances, to the utmost of their ability, "of themselves"; unasked, not having been put upon, pressed, and urged to such a service; for persons to give when they are ask...

Although this is rather a practical than a spiritual chapter, I hope that we shall get profit out of it by the teaching of the Spirit of God who inspired Paul to write it. Paul was writing to the church at Corinth to commend the churches of Macedonia, that he might stir up the one church by the example of the others. The saints at Jerusalem were starving because of a famine, and it came into the mind of certain Gentile churches to send help to the mother-church at Jerusalem. It was regarded as a very wonderful thing that Gentiles should be sending help to Jews. I hope it would not be thought wonderful now, but it was then; and Paul, who loved the saints at Corinth, and saw that they were a little backward in this matter stirred them up to greater diligence. He did not like the churches in Macedonia to go so far ahead of the church in Corinth which was richer, and more endowed with gifts,...

II. THE MINISTRY OF GIVING. CHAPTER S 8-9 1. The Examples and Principles of Giving. CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The Grace of God Manifested in the Churches of Macedonia. (2 Corinthians 8:1)_ 2. The Great Example. (2 Corinthians 8:8) 3. The Advice, Principles and Administration. (2 Corinthians 8:9 .) There is to be a practical ministry in giving, especially in remembering the poor of the flock. He is anxious now to lay this responsibility upon their hearts. In the first epistle he had written them that his glory was in giving the gospel gratuitously. He would not take anything from the Corinthians for himself, but he wants their gifts for others. He was making up a co

2 CORINTHIANS 8, 9. THE COLLECTION FOR POOR CHRISTIANS AT JERUSALEM. Paul attached the highest importance to this collection, to which he seems to have invited all the Gentile churches to contribute. He valued it not merely for the relief it would bring to the deep poverty of the Christians at Jerusalem, but also as a means of eliciting generosity in the churches to which he appealed, and as a symbol of that binding unity in which all the churches of God in Christ were held together. He thinks of the liberality thus evoked as a grace, a gift of God to man, and a gift of man to God, and also as a fellowship, a common participation in common service which was a precious symbol of participation in common life. 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1. Of this liberality, significant of so much, the churches of Macedonia, such as Thessalonica, Philippi, Berœ a, had already given an example all