Chapter Eight

Exhortation to help Titus in collecting alms for the Jerusalem Christians (1–15). Recommendation of the messengers sent by Paul (16–24).

2 Cor 8:1-15. In chapters 8 and 9, the Apostle speaks about the work he undertook—collecting alms for the saints or for Christians. To move the Corinthians to generosity in this work, the Apostle points out to them the generosity which the Macedonians had shown before them. Then he reminds the Corinthians that they have already begun to collect alms, and says that he does not require from them donations that would exceed their means.

2 Corinthians 8:1. We want to let you know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches in Macedonia, 2 Corinthians 8:2. for amid much trial and affliction they overflow with joy; and their deep poverty has abounded to the wealth of their generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:3. For they gave according to their ability and beyond their ability—I testify: 2 Corinthians 8:4. they begged us with much urgency for the favor of taking part in the ministry to the saints; 2 Corinthians 8:5. and not only in the way we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by the will of God. The Macedonian churches (in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea) were themselves in a rather difficult situation at that time. Nevertheless, the Christians there understood the need of others and, despite their own needs, urged Paul to accept from them an offering for the poor Jerusalem Christians, one might say, taking away from their own necessities. In this, Paul notes that by doing this they wanted first of all to express their devotion to the “Lord,” that is, Christ, and then also to the Apostle, being confident that such a work was in complete accord with God’s will.

2 Corinthians 8:6. Therefore we asked Titus to complete among you this act of grace, just as he had begun it. “Therefore,” that is, in view of such conduct of the Macedonians, Paul did not want the Corinthians to fall behind them in zeal in the work of collecting alms. “Act of grace”—more accurately from the Greek: grace. In calling alms thus, the Apostle makes it clear that it makes a man like God, the source of grace, and on the other hand is itself accomplished under the action of God’s grace, which softens the human heart.

2 Corinthians 8:7. Now as you abound in everything—in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love you have for us—make sure that you abound in this grace as well. Compare 1 Cor 1:5.

2 Corinthians 8:8. I say this not as a command, but by mentioning the earnestness of others I am testing the genuineness of your love. The Apostle, as in 1 Cor 7:25, does not command the Corinthians but gives them only an opportunity to show their Christian disposition.

2 Corinthians 8:9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. To persuade the Corinthians, the Apostle reminds them what Christ did out of love for mankind (compare Phil 2:6 and following).

2 Corinthians 8:10. I give my advice on this: it is beneficial for you, who not only started to do this but also desired it from the year before. What should further move the Corinthians to collect alms is the fact that they were not only collecting it as something obligatory for each Christian, but were also applying special desire or zeal to this work, even before the Macedonians. Busse translates the second half of the verse as follows: “which, even if you did not start to do the collection, have already had the desire for it.” The Syriac translation renders this passage as follows: “not only in desire but also in deed.”

2 Corinthians 8:11. Now complete the doing of it, so that as there was willingness to desire, so there may also be a completion from what you have. 2 Corinthians 8:12. For if there is eagerness, it is accepted according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:13. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but rather a matter of fair balance— The Apostle explains that alms should be given in measure with one’s means, so that a person does not remain himself poor. Indeed, if such unlimited giving of one’s property were to take place, then the number of poor would continuously grow, and those who received alms would immediately have to give what they had received to those from whom they received it, and who had themselves become completely poor. Moreover, the Apostle could not demand such almsgiving, because that would mean demanding from all Christians together that they rise to the highest degree of Christian perfection (compare Luke 10:25 and following).

2 Corinthians 8:14. at the present time your abundance is a supply for their need, so that their abundance may become a supply for your need, that there may be fairness— 2 Corinthians 8:15. as it is written: “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. A new reason for collecting alms. It is evident that churches composed of converted pagans also sometimes suffered material want, as in this case the Jerusalem church did. Then, alluding to the fact that excess manna gathered was of no particular benefit to the collector, and that with a small gathering the collector still received nourishment from this miraculous food, the Apostle suggests that in general “the life of a person does not depend on the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). 2 Cor 8:16-24. The Apostle speaks of those men whom he is sending to receive the alms collected in Corinth, and recommends them as people deserving trust and respect.

2 Corinthians 8:16. Thanks be to God, who puts the same eagerness for you into the heart of Titus! 2 Corinthians 8:17. For not only did he accept our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he is going to you of his own accord. First of all, the Apostle recommends Titus, who of his own free will took upon himself the difficult mission of collecting alms among the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 8:18. With him we are sending the brother who is praised in all the churches for his gospel work, 2 Corinthians 8:19. and not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches as our companion in traveling with respect to this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our goodwill. Besides Titus, Paul sent to Corinth a special “brother,” that is, a Christian well-known as a preacher and at the same time having received authority from the churches (according to the Greek text: set apart or ordained) for collecting alms and verifying the collected sums. He was to accompany Apostle Paul everywhere in order to relieve him of concern about verifying and keeping the alms being collected. Seeing such careful attention to the gifts collected from them, the Corinthians gave with greater willingness. Who this brother was—the Apostle does not say. It is supposed that it was Barnabas or Luke, but this is hardly probable, since this brother still occupied a secondary position with Titus, whereas Barnabas and Luke could not have been placed below Titus.

2 Corinthians 8:20. We are taking pains that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 2 Corinthians 8:21. for we aim at what is honorable not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of people. The Apostle wished to be pure and blameless not only in God’s eyes but before men. Why, indeed, should he give them cause for suspicion regarding the fate of the collected gifts? Let them know and see that Paul himself does not touch the money about the collection of which he took such care.

2 Corinthians 8:22. And we are sending with them our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now even more earnest because of his great confidence in you. Besides the two mentioned above, the Apostle sends a third collector already by his own choice, as a man especially zealous, who is moreover fully confident in the Corinthians’ attitude toward him and toward the work which Apostle Paul has entrusted to him.

2 Corinthians 8:23. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 2 Corinthians 8:24. Therefore openly show these messengers and before the churches the evidence of your love and our reason for boasting about you. Once again, in recommending all the messengers, the Apostle calls the two unnamed collectors the “glory of Christ.” This means that such people are an adornment of Christ’s Church, that by their conduct they glorify Christ. With this, everything is said! * * * Notes Exod 16