“2 Corinthians 8:7-15”

Sunday, June 10, 2018

"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. I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 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. 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. 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. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— 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; as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

---End of Scripture---

After citing the exemplary Macedonian commitment to benevolence for the Christians in Jerusalem, Paul begins to make the connection to Corinth. The Macedonians turned out their shallow pockets and enlarged their hearts for the brethren; now what about them?

Corinth was a place of much wealth and learning. Yet, it wasn't just in the worldly concept of wealth that they were rich. No, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:4-7: "I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in EVERYTHING you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Here he references their depth of faith, utterance, knowledge, earnestness, and love. With all of these blessings and the example of the Macedonian Christians, Corinth had a great opportunity to put their resources to good use.

After commending these virtues, Paul exhorts them to abound in this grace also. Keeping in mind that Paul’s efforts are to avoid slanderous reports, he presents the instruction as a request rather than a command (1:24). He wants to motivate them through love and generosity, not break them down (10:8; 13:10). As other Christians have been stirred up, so Paul demonstrates his assurance that the Corinthians will prove their sincerity of love (cf. 1Jn. 3:17).

As if the tremendous example of the Macedonians were not enough, Paul establishes the even more superior example of Christ’s condescension to save men. One will notice the shift to second person pronouns for personal emphasis. Jesus had every advantage and yet gave it up to redeem and spiritually enrich mankind (Phil. 2:1-11). As a result of that condescension, Christians (especially at Corinth) were made rich (4:16, 18; 5:1, 8, 17f, 21; Eph. 1:3).

To further stir up the conviction of the Corinthians, Paul gives a word of advice. “Although the Achaeans may have failed thus far to follow through with their commitment to contribute, their desire to share in the work has remained constant. So, Paul actually pays them a subtle compliment, which, perhaps, will encourage them to delay no longer.” (Melvin Curry, "2 Corinthians", Truth Commentaries, 269).

Their giving needed to be both cheerful (9:7) and willing (1 Tim. 6:17-19). In verse 11, Paul issues a very pointed imperative – perform the doing! They had been eager to help, so now they must help! Since they had been willing, they were to now offer a free will offering as they had prospered. Paul has already established that they had prospered on a higher level than anyone in the region and therefore owed a great debt to share with their spiritual brethren who were suffering. Upon completion, their gift would be readily accepted by God.

There was no specific amount required, nor is there today (cf. 1Cor. 16:2). Despite the lack of an amount, some may have alleged that Paul required too much. In response, Paul demonstrates that their giving was not to ease others and burden/afflict themselves. The effort was to ensure equality during time of duress (cf. Acts 2; 4; 6). The Corinthians may find themselves in dire straits in the future and requiring what the brethren in Jerusalem were requiring now. If they failed at this time, how embarrassing and shaming if they were to need help in the future.

Toward the end of this section Paul quotes from Exodus 16:18 in the context of Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness and calls to remembrance the grace of God to give them manna for 40 years. During the wanderings, people gathered different amounts, but at the end of the day, everyone ended up with an omer of manna. This point drives home the equality principle in the previous verse. “All who were able were employed in gathering it. Some were more successful than others in how much they collected. When it was brought back to the camp, the amount each person had collected was measured by an omer. If he had a surplus, it went to supply the wants of some other family that had not been able to collect a sufficiency. Thus the one who had gathered little had no lack. Those who gathered more than an omer would constantly be manifesting a spirit of benevolence.” (Reese, 209).

Please read 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 for tomorrow!

You are invited to worship God with us today at the Taylorsville Road church of Christ!

3741 Taylorsville Road. 9:30 AM Bible class. 10:30 AM worship period. 5:00 PM worship period.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

- Eric Parker

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