INTRODUCTION TO 2 CORINTHIANS 8 In this chapter the apostle stirs up the Corinthians, to make a collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, by a variety of arguments, and gives a commendation of Titus and some other brethren, who were appointed messengers to them on that account. He first sets bef... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER, BRETHREN, WE DO YOU TO WIT OF THE GRACE OF GOD,.... The apostle having said everything that was proper to conciliate the minds and affections of the Corinthians to him, and the matter in difference being adjusted to the satisfaction of all parties concerned; he proposes what he had wisely... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW THAT IN A GREAT TRIAL OF AFFLICTION,.... The apostle proceeds to show the condition these churches were in when, and the manner in which, they contributed to the relief of others. They were in affliction: they received the Gospel at first in much affliction, as did the church at Thessalonica, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
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; n... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAYING US WITH MUCH ENTREATY,.... They not only gave freely, being unasked by the apostles; but they sought to them, and earnestly entreated them, THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE GIFT; the beneficence, what they had so freely and generously collected: and THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MINISTERING TO THE SAIN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS THEY DID NOT AS WE HOPED,.... All this was unexpected by the apostles, who knew their great affliction and deep poverty, and therefore could not have hoped for such a collection from them; or that they would have desired the apostle to have ministered it for them: BUT FIRST GAVE THEIR OWN... [ Continue Reading ]
INSOMUCH THAT WE DESIRED TITUS,.... Observing the very great readiness, cheerfulness, and liberality of the poor Macedonians in this matter, the apostles could do no other than desire Titus to forward, hasten, and accomplish a like liberal contribution among the Corinthians; or the sense is, that th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE AS YE ABOUND IN EVERYTHING,.... In all gifts and every grace, in the use and exercise of them, insomuch that they were enriched in everything, and wanted nothing; see 1 Corinthians 1:5, that is here expressed in general, is explained by particulars following: IN FAITH: both in the doctrin... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK NOT BY COMMANDMENT,.... Either of God, who has not fixed the certain times when, or certain sums which persons are to give, and other circumstances, which are left to discretion; but in general has signified it as his will, that those in necessity are to be relieved by such who are in abilit... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE KNOW THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS,.... This is a new argument, and a very forcible one to engage to liberality, taken from the wonderful grace and love of Christ, displayed in his state of humiliation towards his people; which is well known to all them that have truly believed in Christ; of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HEREIN I GIVE MY ADVICE,.... As Daniel did to Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4:27. The apostle did not choose to make use of his apostolical authority, or give orders, as he sometimes did in such cases; he did not think fit to speak by way of commandment, obliging them to what they ought to do willingly... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE PERFORM THE DOING OF IT,.... This is a conclusion from the former advice, to finish what was readily willed; for as it is not enough to do a thing, unless it is done cheerfully and willingly, so it is not sufficient to express a good will to such service as is here called to, without d... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THERE BE FIRST A WILLING MIND,.... If what is done springs from a truly noble, generous spirit, a spirit of bountifulness and liberality; and is given cheerfully and freely, and according to a man's ability; the quantity matters not, whether it be more or less: IT IS ACCEPTED; both of God an... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I MEAN NOT THAT OTHER MEN BE EASED AND YOU BURDENED. Referring either to the givers; and that either to the richer and meaner sort in this church; the apostle's sense being, not to put the whole burden of the collection upon some only, whilst others were excused doing little or nothing; but that... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BY AN EQUALITY,.... All that he meant was, that there might be an equality both in givers and receivers, proportioned to their several circumstances and stations of life: THAT NOW AT THIS TIME; which was a very necessitous time at Jerusalem, there being a famine there, and their common stock ex... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN,.... In Exodus 16:18 HE THAT GATHERED MUCH HAD NOTHING OVER, AND HE THAT GATHERED LITTLE HAD NO LACK; respect is had to the history of the manna, a sort of food God prepared for the Israelites in the wilderness; and which were gathered by them every morning, by some more, by others... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THANKS BE TO GOD,.... The apostle proceeds to give an account of the persons and their characters, who were employed in making this collection at Corinth for the poor saints, and begins with Titus; and the rather because he had been already concerned in setting afoot that good work among them; a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR INDEED, HE ACCEPTED THE EXHORTATION,.... The Macedonians besought the apostle with much entreaty to give unto him, 2 Corinthians 8:4 or which being moved by their example, they gave unto him, namely, that he would go and finish what he had already begun; and accordingly he did not refuse, but re... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE HAVE SENT WITH HIM THE BROTHER,.... The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "our brother"; and one of Stephens's copies, "your brother": who this brother was, is not certain; some think it was Luke the evangelist, the companion of the apostle in his travels: WHOSE PRAISE IS IN THE GOSPEL, THR... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT THAT ONLY, BUT WHO WAS ALSO CHOSEN OF THE CHURCHES,.... Not only famous for preaching the Gospel, but he was also appointed by the joint suffrages of the churches, which were made by the lifting up or stretching out of the hand, as the word here used signifies; this brother was not chosen to... [ Continue Reading ]
AVOIDING THIS, THAT NO MAN SHOULD BLAME US,.... There is an allusion in these words to mariners, who, when sensible of danger, steer their course another way, in order to shun a rock and secure themselves. So the apostles being aware of the censorious spirits of some persons, and to prevent all susp... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVIDING FOR HONEST THINGS,.... Or premeditating, forecasting, or considering before hand in the mind, things that are good, that are of good report among men, as well as accounted good by God; for it becomes professors of religion, and especially ministers of the Gospel, to be careful not only to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE HAVE SENT WITH HIM OUR BROTHER,.... This is a third person sent about this business. The apostle, in this, conformed to the customs of his nation; at least if he did not purposely do it, it agrees with the Jewish canons, which require three persons for the distribution of alms. "The alms dis... [ Continue Reading ]
WHETHER ANY DO INQUIRE OF TITUS,.... The apostle here sums up the characters of each of the above persons; as for Titus, he says, HE IS MY PARTNER; he had been his companion in his travels, a partner with him in preaching the Gospel, as well as in the troubles and persecutions he had met with; and... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE SHOW YE TO THEM, AND BEFORE THE CHURCHES,.... This is the conclusion of the apostle, upon summing up the characters of these messengers; and his exhortation is, that since they were persons of so much note and worth, as they ought to be received with great marks of respect and affection, s... [ Continue Reading ]