Bible Commentaries
2 Corinthians 8

Verse 1

2Co 8:1. We do you to wit is an obsolete translation that means, "we will make known to you," etc.

Verse 2

2Co 8:2. The subject of this and the next chapter is the contribution for the needy disciples in Judea. Paul has referred to it in 1Co 16:1, and it is mentioned in Act 11:28-30. The preceding verse refers to the contribution of the Macedonians as the grace of God being bestowed upon them. That means that God enabled them to make a liberal gift in spite of their comparative poverty and their own trials as Christians among enemies. What adds to the merits of their giving is their joy at being given the privilege of performing such a worthy deed.

Verse 3

2Co 8:3. No person can actually do more than his power to do, but he can have a willingness that goes beyond it, and these churches had that frame of mind.

Verse 4

2Co 8:4. The sincere interest those churches had in the matter was indicated by their insisting upon Paul to receive their contribution, that he might pass it on to the needy ones. Fellowship is from the same Greek word that is used in Act 2:42, and means partnership, or a sharing of something with another.

Verse 5

2Co 8:5. Not as we hoped. The liberality of the Macedonian churches went beyond Paul's expectations. He accounts for it by the fact that they first gave their own selves to the Lord. When disciples realize that they are actually not their own (1Co 6:19-20), they may be willing to consider "all that they have and are" as belonging to the Lord.

Verse 6

2Co 8:6. As he had begun. Titus began the work of directing the Corinthian brethren in this matter of fellowship (chapter 12:18), and the favorable reaction of the church caused Paul to urge Titus on to its completion.

Verse 7

2Co 8:7. The virtues of faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence and love, pertained principally to spiritual matters. The Corinthian brethren abounded in them, which encouraged Paul to exhort them to abound also in the grace (favor) of bestowing temporal benefits upon the poor saints.

Verse 8

2Co 8:8. Not by commandment. We know the apostle did not mean the giving was not commanded, for that would contradict 1Co 16:1, where he says he had "given order" to other churches on this subject, and passed the same instruction on to this church. The idea is that he wished the brethren to be stimulated unto the work by the good example of others. This shows it is right to refer to the liberality of others when exhorting a congregation to bestir itself in the matter of giving.

Verse 9

2Co 8:9. Much misplaced sentiment has been expressed at this passage by teachers who wish to show how poor the Saviour was while on the earth. They will even quote• Mat 8:20 and apply it here, when that passage has nothing to do with the subject of poverty as we commonly use that -term. (See the comments on that verse in volume 1 of the New Testament Commentary.) The poverty of Jesus was the opposite of his former riches, which was his possession and enjoyment of the glory of Heaven. He gave it all up that he might come among men to show them how they might come into possession of such eternal riches. He could not have set such an example had He retained his possession of those eternal joys and spiritual wealth continuously, instead of coming to the earth where he would be dispossessed of them.

Verse 10

2Co 8:10. The forwardness or willingness of the Corinthian brethren as to helping the needy ones in Judea, had caused them to begin the collections a year before.

Verse 11

2Co 8:11. Paul urges the brethren to "speed up" the program so earnestly begun before, carrying their readiness of mind into action or actual performance, by contributing out of their possessions.

Verse 12

2Co 8:12. To begin with, in order for the gift to be acceptable to God, it must be prompted by a willing mind. The size of the gift that is required in order for it to be accepted is based wholly on what they have, or, as 1Co 16:2 states it, according "as God hath prospered" them.

Verse 13

2Co 8:13. The actual amount the Lord requires from each disciple is not the same in all cases when stated in "dollars and cents." That would cause the more prosperous to be eased, while the less fortunate in worldly goods would be burdened.

Verse 14

2Co 8:14. The equality denotes that all members of the body of Christ should be equally interested in the welfare of others. If such were the case, then those in need would be assisted by the ones in better circumstances. (See 1Co 12:26.)

Verse 15

2Co 8:15. This refers to the gathering of manna in the wilderness recorded in Exo 16:18, and Paul is making a spiritual application of it. (See the comments on that passage in volume 1 of the Old Testament Commentary.)

Verse 16

2Co 8:16-17. Titus was always subject to the instructions of Paul, but his own interest in the Corinthian brethren also prompted him to act.

Verse 18

2Co 8:18. The original for praise is defined by Thayer, "approbation, commendation, praise." This brother had a good reputation among the churches for being true to the Gospel. He was sent with Titus as a moral protection aaginst any suspicion of misuse of the funds he was carrying.

Verse 19

2Co 8:19. This brother was not merely the selection of Paul, but he had been chosen by these same churches among which he had the praise, to be with Paul in his traveling to and fro while collecting the grace (gift) to be turned over to the needy ones.

Verse 20

2Co 8:20. These precautionary measures were taken to prevent any questioning as to how the money was being handled. A man who is entrusted with the property of another should wish to protect himself from any suspicion of dishonesty. I have known of cases where brethren who handled the money of the congregation would resent all inquiries about the amount in their hands. They would probably make some peevish remark such as, "if you think I am not honest, I will just turn the job over to someone else." There is something wrong with a brother who takes such an attitude, to say the least, and he lays himself open to just suspicion.

Verse 21

2Co 8:21. The Lord knows the heart of every man, but human beings do not. It is necessary, therefore, that a man who handles the money contrib.. uted by others, should so conduct himself that his honest things will be evident to all.

Verse 22

2Co 8:22. To put the matter beyond all danger of questioning, Paul sent still another brother along with Titus, besides the one mentioned in verse 18. We are not told his name, but he was no stranger to Paul, for he had shown himself diligent in many things. His diligence was strengthened by his confidence in the Corinthian brethren. (I have in you should be translated "he has in you.")

Verse 23

2Co 8:23. This verse constitutes an apostolic recommendation for Titus and the brethren who were going with him. It is somewhat on the same basis as the foregoing statements, namely, an assurance that the men entrusted with the important work at hand were worthy.

Verse 24

2Co 8:24. Paul had boasted (spoken in complimentary terms) to these brethren, of the good spirit of the Corinthians. They are requested to verify it by their treatment of the messengers upon arrival among them.