WHAT GOD'S GRACE. Paul points to the good example of the churches in Macedonia, but is careful to give God the glory! Macedonia would include Philippi, Berea, Thessalonica, etc. The Corinthians had at first been eager to help, and Paul had boasted about them to the churches in Macedonia (2 Corinthia... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVERELY TESTED. Compare 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:3-9. EXTREMELY GENEROUS. "In spite of the fact that they themselves were very poor (which could be used as an excuse to do nothing) they were extremely generous in the money they were sending to help the Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EVEN MORE. "They outdid themselves in their giving, and it was of their own free will!... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BEGGED US. "This is how eager they were to have a part in this good work, and they looked at it as being a privilege!" As Jesus freely gave himself, so Christians are to share with needy brothers and sisters! [_Saints:_ see note on 1 Corinthians 6:11.]... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS MORE! They did more than Paul could expect them to do! FIRST. THEN. Their Christian giving grew out of the fact that they had already given themselves as _living sacrifices_ to Christ! Compare Romans 12:1-2_. If you can reach a man's mind, you can reach his heart, and through it his pocketboo... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE URGED TITUS. Titus has just come from Corinth, but Paul is sending him back there, to complete this _raising of money_ to help the poor. Paul is careful just how he words this, calling it a special service of love. Some accused him of draining the treasury (2 Corinthians 12:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ARE SO RICH. "You are a gifted church, rich in spiritual things (1 Corinthians 1:4-5)_."_ Paul implies they should be the one to set the example for everyone else!... [ Continue Reading ]
ANY RULES. "I do not command you to do this. This must be a work of love, and so voluntary." TO FIND OUT. "The example of the Macedonian churches has given me the courage to ask you to do this, and what you do will demonstrate the reality of your love!... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOU KNOW. "Think of the example which Christ set for us!" Compare Philippians 2:5-11.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY OPINION. Not a command, but advice. IT IS BETTER. If they don't finish this now, they will have lost something by neglect. WHAT YOU BEGAN LAST YEAR. They had started in a burst of spontaneous enthusiasm! Probably the false teachers had tried to talk them out of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON WITH IT, THEN! The TEV brings out the emphatic NOW! "You volunteered and made a beginning of it. Finish it up!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
EAGER. "Don't put it off, saying that you will have more in the future from which to give! If you are eager to show your love, God will accept your gift because of what you have to give, not because of what may come to you in the future!... [ Continue Reading ]
BY PUTTING A BURDEN ON YOU. A false teacher may have said this collection was a Jewish attempt to make themselves rich from the generosity of the Gentile churches! Compare 2 Corinthians 12:16-18. TREATED EQUALLY. Paul says this in a different way in Romans 15:27. This sharing was a characteristic of... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. Exodus 16:18. Paul uses this to show a Bible basis for Christians to share resources. Christian love will prevent either waste or shortage.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW WE THANK GOD! Paul gives God the credit for Titus' eagerness. Starting here, Paul gives the credentials of the three who were to complete the collection.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT ONLY. Paul did suggest this to Titus (2 Corinthians 8:6), but Titus volunteered to go!... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH HIM. We do not know why Paul does not give the names of these two. Perhaps they are some of those mentioned in Acts 20:4. See 2 Corinthians 8:22 for the second unnamed brother. These will go with Paul to Jerusalem with the money.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT TO STIR UP. "I suggested to the churches that they send messengers with me to Jerusalem, so that we will not stir up any complaints about the way this generous gift of money is handled." Paul seems sensitive about this. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:8-9.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT ONLY. "I want to do right in the Lord's sight, and as much as possible, I want to avoid any suspicion of misconduct, which would make me less useful in the service of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE ARE SENDING. This is the second unnamed brother. See 2 Corinthians 8:18. He shares Titus' enthusiasm!... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS MY PARTNER. Paul gives Titus a good recommendation! Paul certifies to Corinth that these brothers are _authentic._ Many false prophets were victimizing the churches.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOW YOUR LOVE TO THEM. These men will eventually report back to the churches they represent. The conduct of the Corinthian church will be proof of all the good things Paul has said about them!... [ Continue Reading ]