2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Applebury's Comments

Principles Regulating Giving
Scripture

2 Corinthians 8:7-15. But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us see that ye abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. 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 become rich. 10 And herein 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. 11 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. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not. 13 For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed; 14 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: 15 as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack.

Comments

But as ye abound in everything.Having commended the Macedonians for their abundant response to the gracious privilege that God had given them to share in the service for His saints, Paul urged the Corinthians to abound in this grace also. He placed this privilege which God had graciously given them on a par with other manifestations of God's grace which they enjoyed and to which they had responded.

faith, and utterance, and knowledge.Paul had reminded the Corinthians of the grace of God that had been given to them in their relationship to Jesus Christ for they had been enriched in Him in everything and lacked in no gift that would help them as they patiently waited for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4-8). Among those gifts, he mentions utterance and knowledge. He also gave a list of nine spiritual powers through the laying on of the apostles-' hands that enabled the church to function effectively in the absence of the completed New Testament (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

Since Paul lists faith with utterance and knowledge he is in all probability using it in its relationship to the performance of miracles, rather than in its usual sense as belief in the gospel or belief in the Lord Jesus Christ or trust in God. On the other hand, faith in connection with miracles was a tangible demonstration of God's gracious bestowal of power on those on whom the apostles laid their hands. The word of wisdom enabled them to utter the message which God revealed through them. The word of knowledge enabled them to understand this divinely revealed message which we now have in the New Testament.
Paul urged the Corinthians that just as they had an abundant supply of these gracious giftsfaith and utterance and knowledgeso they were to abound in this grace also.

I speak not by way of commandment.Paul had reminded the Corinthians that as he had given order for the churches of Galatia so he was also ordering the Corinthians to prepare themselves to make the collection for the relief of the saints. Why does he now say that this was not by way of commandment? The answer seems to lie in the fact that he is here discussing the issue of generosity in giving. As an apostle he did issue the order for the churches to give, but liberality or generosity cannot be ordered; it springs from the single-minded devotion to the Lord of those who first dedicate themselves to Him. He had cited the eagerness of the Macedonians as a standard by which to test the sincerity of the love of the Corinthians. Thus the example of sincere, earnest response to the order to give becomes a strong motivating force to help others to do likewise. Those who fear lest others learn about their giving usually have cause to be ashamed of it themselves. On the other hand, those who give simply to appear generous violate the basic teaching of Our Lord (Matthew 6:2-4; Matthew 15:3-9; Luke 21:1-4).

The difference between the command and the motivating force that brings it to reality is seen in the words of Our Lord when He said, If you love me, ye will keep my commandments (John 14:15). Those who really love the Lord have only to be told of the need. They have proven their awareness of the command to give by their own dedication to the Lord. How much giving is pointless because of some vague, general appeal! Paul reminded the Macedonians and the Corinthians that what they were giving was to help the poor in Judea. Those who give to the local budget should also be informed as to the items of that budget. Support of missionary projects is lifted to a higher level when the congregation knows the missionary to whom they are giving.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.The sincere expression of their love for which Paul was calling found an example in that which had been graciously done by the Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet became poor. No better comment can be found on this issue than Paul's in Philippians 2:5-11. He existed in the form of God and was on equality with God. He emptied Himself, took the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man. He was found in the fashion as a man and humbled Himself, obediently submitting to the death of the cross. He was crucified through weakness, yet lived through the power of God. See 2 Corinthians 13:4. This does not imply that He lost His deity during His earthly ministry, for there are many examples in the Gospels clearly showing both His deity and His humanity. See Studies in Luke, pp. 58-59. The saints are made rich in Him through the salvation which He has so graciously provided. See Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 2:11-14.

And herein I give my judgment.Another strong motivating force in this matter of giving is the expressed opinion of the inspired apostle. Since the Corinthians were the first to make a beginning in this project, thus showing their willingness to have a share in it Paul urged them to complete the task according to their ability.

if the readiness is there.God knows the heart of man as well as the size of his bank account. He looks upon the readiness of those whose love leads them to share in relieving the needs of the saints If this eagerness is present, the amount given is acceptable according to one's ability. It is not determined by what he does not have.

This verse is as much a part of the inspired teaching about giving as the order to give or the appeal based on dedication and love for the Lord. Public appeals overlooking this fact embarrass and often discourage those present who may not be able to give. It was not Paul's intention to do such a thing at Corinth. Jesus-' comment about the widow who gave all her living does have some bearing on this issue. See Luke 21:1-4. But it in no way excuses the parsimonious person whose love for money outweighs his love for God.

not that others may be eased.Paul was not intending to place a burden on the Gentile churches of Macedonia and Achaia in order that the churches in Judea with Jewish background might live in ease. The saints in Judea were in real need. Paul with his Jewish background labored among the Gentiles as the apostle of Christ and everywhere taught that in Christ such distinctions as Jew and Gentile had been removed. But he also recognized the debt which he had to preach the gospel to both Jew and Gentile. He also recognized an obligation toward his Jewish kinsmen, for the faithful among them he said are Israelites: whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:4-5). Not all Jews could claim this honor but only those who, following in the footsteps of Abraham, had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. See Romans 9:6-7; Romans 4:23-25.

but by equality.The gifts of the Gentile Christians would ease the distress of the saints of Judea.

In the reference to equality, some assume that Paul is indicating that Gentiles who then had the ability to contribute to the relief of the saints of Judea might at some future time suffer distress and be relieved by the saints in Judea, thus bring about equality.

Paul, however, had written to the Corinthians about another phase of equality. He had balanced spiritual things when he had sown for their benefit with his right to reap from their material things. See 1 Corinthians 9:11. Remembering that the gospel had originated in Judea and that the faithful among the nation of the Jews from Abraham on were like the root out of which the true faith of the gospel had grown, we might also ask whether or not Paul is thinking of that equality that now balanced material things with spiritual things. Paul wrote to the Romans about this trip to Jerusalem on which he was to minister to the saints in connection with the contribution which Macedonia and Achaia were making for the poor in Jerusalem. He said, Yea, it hath been their good pleasure; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to minister unto them in carnal things (Romans 15:25-27).

He that gathered much.Paul quoted from Exodus 16:18, a reference to the giving of the manna, as an example of the equality about which he was writing. The manna, just as our blessings whether material or spiritual, came from God. God saw to it that no one was able to hoard the manna and thus made everyone equal in that respect. But it is His love and earnest care for others in the hearts of His people that will produce equality in things both spiritual and material.