A PLEA CONCERNING THE PAYING OF THEIR ‘DEBT' TO THE JERUSALEM CHURCH BY MEANS OF ‘THE COLLECTION' WHICH WAS TO BE FOR THE RELIEF OF THE EXTREME POVERTY OF THE SAINTS IN THAT CHURCH AND WHICH WOULD ITSELF BE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE FORWARD GOING OF THE OVERALL PURPOSES OF GOD (2 CORINTHIANS 8:1 TO 2 CO... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GENEROSITY OF THE CHURCHES OF MACEDONIA WITH REGARD TO THE COLLECTION (2 CORINTHIANS 8:1). ‘Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, how that in much testing by (proof of) affliction the abundance of their joy and their in dept... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For according to their power, I bear witness, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints.' For they gave as much as they could afford, indeed more than they could afford, an... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.' And in doing this they not only fulfilled Paul's hopes but went further. They first ‘gave themselves to the Lord and to us', and did it ‘through the will of God'. Paul's Apostleship... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.' Indeed so deep was the impact of the Macedonian way of giving that it moved him to send Titus to Corinth in the hope of producing the same effect among them in regard to the Coll... [ Continue Reading ]
HE EXHORTS THE CORINTHIANS ALSO TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR SPIRITUALITY BY THEIR GENEROSITY (2 CORINTHIANS 8:7) ‘But as you abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also.' Did they not abound in everyt... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.' He does not want them to think that he is saying this as a commandment from God, or even as an order, but as an example so as to test out their love as well. The gracious, loving a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.' Indeed, laying aside the example of the Macedonians, was not the prime example of such giving the Lord Jesus Christ Himself? Such was His u... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And in this I give my judgment, for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.' Indeed he has considered the situation like a judge appointed to consider an important matter, and he has passed his judgment. And his judgment is th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man has, not according as he has not.' So let them now complete what they had begun. Let them complete ‘... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For I do not say this that others may be eased and you distressed, but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want, that there may be equality.' Let them recognise that the purpose behind all this is no... [ Continue Reading ]
‘As it is written, He who gathered much had nothing over; and he who gathered little had no lack.' This was in accordance with the Scripture principle illustrated in Exodus 16:18, which demonstrated God's mind on the subject of provision, each according to his need. God did not shower jewels down o... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For he accepted indeed our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went forth to you of his own accord.' He thanks God that He is making provision for the need of the Corinthians. For He has put into the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS SENDING THREE REPRESENTATIVES TO SEE TO THE COLLECTION AND TO THEIR SPIRITUAL WELFARE, ONE OF WHOM IS TITUS WHOM THEY KNOW WELL (2 CORINTHIANS 8:16). Three was the number of completeness from when numbers were first used, for originally men could only count up to three, which represented ever... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches, and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness.' A... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us, for we take thought for things honourable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.' Yet it also assures that no one will be able to accuse Paul of self-seeking, or even dish... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.' And along with these two men Paul has also sent a third person, a man whose earnestness in many ways he can vouch for, a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ.' He recognises that some might well wish to check out the people he has sent. They can inform such people that Titus is Paul's... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Show you therefore to them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.' Thus to such honoured men they are to show, as it were in the presence of the churches whom they represent, the proof of their love, the proof that they are really what Paul has boas... [ Continue Reading ]