2 Corinthians 8:1-6
1: Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
2: that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
3: For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4: begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
5: and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
6: So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
Paul began to address the topic of giving for the poor saints in Jerusalem as he had written in his previous letter. He told the Corinthians of the grace God had given to the churches of Macedonia which caused them to give quite liberally toward this cause. The Macedonians, even though deeply poor and afflicted themselves, were quite eager to contribute to the poor saints in Jerusalem.
Paul said the Macedonians gave well beyond their ability and beyond what Paul & Co. had expected them to give. Not only did they contribute gifts, but they gave of themselves to the Lord and to Paul.
So, it seemed when Titus had gone to Corinth to check on how things were going in response to Paul’s letter, he also helped set in place what Paul instructed concerning the collection for the saints (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Titus then met with Paul in Macedonia and reported to him their response as we’ve already seen (2 Corinthians 7:6-16). Here Paul said he had urged Titus to go complete the gracious work he started when he was in Corinth. In other words, to get the collection ready to be brought to Jerusalem. The saints in Corinth were wealthier than the saints in Macedonia, who had given so liberally, so this mention of the Macedonian’s abundant giving would hopefully encourage the Corinthians to contribute generously themselves.
2: that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
3: For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4: begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
5: and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
6: So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
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Paul began to address the topic of giving for the poor saints in Jerusalem as he had written in his previous letter. He told the Corinthians of the grace God had given to the churches of Macedonia which caused them to give quite liberally toward this cause. The Macedonians, even though deeply poor and afflicted themselves, were quite eager to contribute to the poor saints in Jerusalem.
Paul said the Macedonians gave well beyond their ability and beyond what Paul & Co. had expected them to give. Not only did they contribute gifts, but they gave of themselves to the Lord and to Paul.
So, it seemed when Titus had gone to Corinth to check on how things were going in response to Paul’s letter, he also helped set in place what Paul instructed concerning the collection for the saints (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Titus then met with Paul in Macedonia and reported to him their response as we’ve already seen (2 Corinthians 7:6-16). Here Paul said he had urged Titus to go complete the gracious work he started when he was in Corinth. In other words, to get the collection ready to be brought to Jerusalem. The saints in Corinth were wealthier than the saints in Macedonia, who had given so liberally, so this mention of the Macedonian’s abundant giving would hopefully encourage the Corinthians to contribute generously themselves.
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