αὐθαίρετοι μετὰ πολλ. παρακ. κ. τ. λ.: of their own accord begging of us with much entreaty (the constr. is clumsy but perhaps unbroken; we should expect ἔδωκαν after αὐθαίρετοι, but the verb is found in 2 Corinthians 8:5) the favour, sc., of giving (cf., for this sense of χάρις, Acts 24:27; Acts 25:3, Sir 30:6), and the participation in the ministering to the saints, sc., the poor Christians in Judæa. The Macedonian Christians did not wait to be asked to give; they asked to be allowed the privilege of giving (cf. Acts 20:35). διακονία is the regular word for such charitable service (cf. Acts 6:1; Acts 11:29; Romans 15:25; Romans 15:31, chap. 2 Corinthians 9:1; 2 Corinthians 9:12, etc.), a primary duty of the διάκονοι being the administration of alms.

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Old Testament