Michael's Abbey Bible Study - 2 Corinthians Chapter 8

1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, Using brethren, (this usage includes women,) identifies the Corinthian church as co-workers for Christ. This opening is like when someone at a business meeting wants to politely emphasize vital information by saying, "Let me draw your attention to…"
The grace of God is the lead in for verse 9.
Macedonia is the northern Roman province of Greece that extends from Apollonia to Philippi. The Macedonian churches have been generous in their support of the church in Jerusalem. Paul is connecting that generosity to the grace of God, and will explain that in the coming verses.
2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. A big part of the affliction of the Macedonian churches was poverty. Paul calls it a very deep poverty using the term for the deepest part of the sea. But before after referring to their poverty he speaks of their abundance of joy that is so great it is overflowing . This verse makes it clear that joy is not dependent on our earthly circumstances. Even more, their actions were out of their joy, not restricted by their situation. Their generosity was liberal and sincere. That they gave liberally does not refer to the amount, but to their spirit. They had little, but gave joyfully.
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, This is not talking about tithing. This is the complete opposite of tithing. This is New Testament giving. It is willing sacrificial giving with a joyful heart. Some gave to the limit of what they were able, and some went beyond that. To a person who is barely able to put food on the table, even 1% is more than they can do. For others it would be 30% of their income before it hurts. So for some, their giving meant they gave instead of buying food for themselves for some period of time. I, like most people, would gladly go without food so my own children could eat. But to deprive oneself for the sake of a stranger I will never meet is far beyond that. This was the giving of the Macedonians.
That this was done freely and spontaneously is significant. They didn't ask God. They weren't prompted by the Holy Spirit. (That is documented when it happens in the New Testament.) They chose to do it. This is New Testament giving.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, They begged for the opportunity to sacrifice for the Christians in Jerusalem. (Saints is interchangeable with Christian in scripture. It is not a special class of Christian.)
The inference is that the reason Paul didn't ask the Macedonians to contribute was that in his mind their poverty made them a candidate for receiving aid rather than giving it.
Luke 21:1-4 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
The Macedonians were so wanting to be a part of this they they considered being allowed to give as a gift, "favor" in the NASB, charin in the Greek, which is the feminine singular accusative tense of charis, which is the word used for gifts of the Spirit. They viewed giving as if they were receiving a gift.
This is not a false prosperity-gospel where you give you so you will get back more. That is idolatry. If you don't understand that, let me explain. People would get idols and worship them in order to get what that false-god offers. If you're trying to get pregnant, you get the idol of the god of fertility. If you want success in business, you get the idol of prosperity. If you want success in battle you get the idol to the god of war. Idol worship is all about the self. I will worship this false god because I want. Giving to get in this life is exactly and identically the same thing as any other idol worship.
Tithing was not idol worship, but was a part of the Mosaic law. Tithing is giving under obligation and compulsion of the law. If someone chooses to follow one part of the law, they must fulfill all of it. It's not a pick-and-choose buffet.
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Gal. 5:1-6 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
The Macedonians gave for the sake of giving. Even if it was only the price of one missed meal, it was giving like Christ did, not to get but to bless another like He blessed us all. Paul holds them up as the example of Christian stewardship. Tithing is a good standard for someone trying to figure out what stewardship means in their own life. I think a 10-10-80 lifestyle like Dave Ramsey teaches is a good goal to have for someone who has financial chaos to get to a place of financial peace. However, what God wants in Christians is a cheerful giver and a sacrificial giver. What percentage makes it a sacrifice depends on the person. 10% may be too hard for some. For more than will admit it, 10% is not enough.
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. That the Macedonians wanted to give out of their lack was unexpected by Paul and the others with him. But also how they gave themselves to God, and under God gave themselves to the instruction of Paul was unexpected. But this was the will of God, just as Paul also says in verse 1:1. While Paul makes it clear that he doesn't have the right to lord over others in 1:24, it is clearly the will of God that he be an authoritative teacher of the gospel and theology, even instructing the other apostles like Peter. The Macedonians accepted Paul's authority this way in a manner that was surprising even to him.
6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. It is likely that this refers to Titus role with the letter of tears. As specifically mentioned previously in this letter, Titus went to Corinth instead of Paul and they accepted Titus as an authority and demonstrated to him that they had taken that letter to heart and acted on it with great zeal. Thus, since Titus had the relationship from the first missionary journey to Corinth and this checkup visit. And it is likely he had begun preparing them to make such a contribution in the year before this letter. Thus, it would be fitting for him to oversee the collection for Jerusalem.
7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. Paul lists things the Corinthians are doing and are doing plentifully, (abounding in.) And they are doing it earnestly, (sincerely and seriously.) He wants them to have the same success in stewardship as well.
8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. This isn't a command. Tithing was a command to the Jews. For Christians giving is a proof of love. If we say we love Jesus, then we need to feed his sheep.
John 21:17 He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus *said to him, "Tend My sheep."
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. Here is the why for Christians. Because Jesus, who is God, became poor by becoming a human. Because He did this, we are elevated out of poverty to the greatest riches that can be. Giving is not our salvation, but proof of our salvation to others and ourselves.
10 I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. Paul is careful to say that this is his opinion. He is being excruciatingly careful to make sure this is not and cannot be misinterpreted as a command. This is to avoid the pitfalls of nomistic obedience to the law of the Jews, or the justification by works of the pagans.
But Paul is saying that while some gave or started to save to give a year ago, and while this is to their advantage, they should also desire to do it. Paul is explicit that wanting to give is more important. The condition of the heart what matters. It's not an obedience thing. It's a heart thing. It's a love thing.
11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. This is a little convoluted in English. Essentially, Paul is saying they wanted to be like Christ before, they were ready to take on the heart of Christ. Now complete that by having the heart of Christ by giving cheerfully as they are able. This is not that they will be completely like Christ now. But they will be complete in the sense that they have taken on all the different aspects of being Christ-like, even if not yet at Christ's level.
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. Here is the bottom line of Christian giving. It's not the amount. Whether a person can contribute a little or a lot is not what is important. It is their heart being eager, (ready,) to give according to what they have. He's not asking for amazing in the eyes of the world. He's asking for amazing in the eyes of God. What counts to God is a heart for Him and others. This is a demonstration of where the heart is.
13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality - Paul is quite clear that this call is not to bring hardship on people. This is the opposite of a "give until it hurts" campaign in some churches. More specifically, he is not calling for a shifting of the burden/affliction from Jerusalem to them. He is calling for sharing the burden. From the Corinthian excess to fill the Jerusalem gap.
14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; Right now, Corinth is the boom-town of the world. Opportunity is everywhere. Because of this, the Corinthians have the means to help those less fortunate at the current time. But this is a temporary state and the roles may be reversed someday.
Some read this to mean that the monetary support to Jerusalem would be reciprocated by spiritual support to them. However, the church at Jerusalem was not known for sending out spiritual support. The primary teacher and source of spiritual support was Paul, who was not educated by, nor sent out by the church at Jerusalem. However, in support of this view, the Jerusalem church was where they gathered to decide important things such as what Gentiles must do to be Christians. And James, the half-brother of Jesus, was the head of the church. Although this was a leadership role not a teaching role. It seems this view is unlikely.
Another view is that this is talking about how Israel blesses the world because the Messiah came to save the world through Israel. However, that blessing has already occurred, and Paul is talking about the future.
Another view is that this verse is eschatological, and that it is referring to the reconciliation of Israel that will happen in the end times. It doesn't seem that Paul is meaning this here.
It seems likely that Paul was saying that someday the church at Jerusalem may directly return the favor. And he is teaching a principal of Christian living where we take care of each other.
15 as it is written, "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack." This is from Exodus 16:18, referring to the gathering of manna from heaven by the Israelites during the Exodus. Ironically, some try to use this to support a false prosperity-gospel, using this as a bridge to tithing of the Mosaic law. However, this means the complete opposite. Those who tried to get more than they needed found themselves with a mess instead of prosperity. This is like someone giving to get in return, treating God like He is some prosperity idol.
Moses specifically told them to gather enough for that day only, an omer, (a dry measurement equal to 2 quarts) of manna per person. Those that tried to gather more than they needed found it was full of worms and stinking the next day. But on Friday they were instructed to gather two days worth. Only then the manna did not rot and get full of worms so they could take a Sabbath rest.
16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. Titus had just come from Corinth. This was a long and difficult journey. And in the flesh it would seem to be an unreasonable effort for such a short duty as collecting the donations from Corinth. However, the importance of this and the amount that would be involved made this a serious duty. And that Titus was not just willing but eager was something to be thankful for. Also, that Titus would go meant there would be respect and cooperation as before.
17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. Have you ever just got back from the store only to find out your spouse needs one more thing that wasn't on the list, and resented having to go back where you just were? And that is a trip of minutes in a car. Yet Titus was eager to go of his own accord. Again, this means it wasn't under compulsion or instruction from Paul, the Holy Spirit, or anything else. Titus' heart was eager to serve. This is visible evidence of the inward heart becoming Christ-like.
In verses 18-22 there are two people Paul refers to without naming them. It is unusual to refer to someone and not name them in letters of this time. Although Paul does this in other places like Philippians 4:2. The brother in verses 18-21 could be Luke, Barnabas, Aristarchus, (Acts 19:29,) Apollos, or someone never mentioned in scripture. There are no clues as to the other brother in verse 22. It's not really important who they were. What is important are the characteristics of these people are things to be emulated by other Christians. For clarity, I will refer to him as "the brother" as Paul did.
18 We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches; Here the brother is famous in the gospel. This is a little vague. It could mean he is an evangelist, or known to walk in the ways of the gospel. Regardless, he has a sterling reputation as a Christian.
19 and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness, The brother was appointed not by Paul, but by the churches. This means he has the approval of James, half-brother of Jesus and leader of the church, and can be trusted to faithfully handle large sums of money. He is known his heart is for Christ and not money.
20 taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; By being part of this work, the brother ensures no one can falsely accuse Paul or Titus because no one would question him. He is the standard for unquestioned integrity.
21 for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. This verse is not a contradiction of Galatians 1:9-10, 3:23, or 1 Thessalonians 2:4. In those verses Paul says that the right thing is to please God, not man. However, the context is regarding being true to the gospel. Specifically, those verses refer to when people want to water down or change the gospel so as not to offend others, or for any other reason.
Galatians 1:9-10 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
However, here in verse 21 Paul is concerned that the money get where it should to please God. But it is also important that everything is honorable in the sight of men. Because accusations of financial mismanagement would bring disrepute and reflect badly on the gospel.
In other words, the gospel is what is important in all these verses.
22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. Along with Titus and the brother appointed by the churches, Paul is sending another brother who has worked with Paul and with the Corinthian church. He has been tested often and found diligent, (earnest and excellent,) in many things. Paul doesn't say in all things. There may have been things that were outside of his gifting. We don't have to be able to do everything. Just be diligent in the things we are gifted to do.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. Titus is identified as Paul's partner in his work, and as a fellow worker with the Corinthians as Paul is. The other two are messengers of the churches. This three-man team, all known by the Corinthians, to collect and transport the money to Jerusalem will ensure that everyone knows this was done with integrity. Today some churches use a 3-man requirement when handling cash donations modeled after this scripture.
24 Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you. In essence, action speaks louder than words. It is easy to say we love someone. But showing it through action is more difficult, especially when it means parting with our money. How we handle our money demonstrates who and what we really love. That Paul is proud of them shows his confidence.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation.

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