2 Corinthians 8

Saturday, 3 October 2015

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Context is important to understand Paul’s introduction of this verse. He has been speaking to the Corinthians about giving for the collection of the saints in Jerusalem. He has mentioned the extreme poverty of those in Macedonia, but that they gave in an immense way out of their poverty. Now, to show the highest form of giving ever known, he turns to the greatest example of it; that of Christ Jesus.

He begins with “For you know.” The message of what Christ did was known to the Corinthians, but now Paul will explain it in a new way to them, unpackaging the mystery of Christ in a way which will hopefully spur them on to a great demonstration of giving as well. Expanding on his words we read, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In verse 7, he said this to them –

“But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.”

In order to show them how to conduct themselves “in this grace also” he reminds them of the same type of grace seen in the Lord. This then is speaking less of the theological idea of grace and more of the act of generosity and giving which he mentioned to the Corinthians in verse 7. And so we could paraphrase this, “For you know the generous giving of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In explanation of this, he says “that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” This is something that we often think about when considering Christ, but not in any specific sense. And so Paul says it directly to help us think it through directly. He possessed all of heavens riches, power, and authority, and yet he voluntarily gave it all up for our sakes.

The Greek word for “He became poor” is in the aorist tense and it therefore refers to the very moment when He became a Man. He set aside all of the glory and splendor of heaven and united with the dust which He created. He became weak and poor in order to demonstrate His love for us. The word “poor” is defined by HELPS Word Studies –

“…to become utterly poor (destitute); hence, to become extremely vulnerable (“helpless“).”

As a human baby, He lay utterly helpless. As a child of Joseph and Mary, He was in such poverty that the sacrifice recorded in Luke 2, which is offered for purification according to the law, was “two turtledoves.” Such a sacrifice was allowed for the very poorest people of the land who could not afford a lamb offering (see Leviticus 12:8).

From His entrance into the world, and for the rest of His life, He remained completely poor, even as a beggar would live. In Luke 8:3, it says that there were certain women “and many others who provided for Him from their substance.” This state of abject poverty was the state of His life and yet in John 16:15, He told the apostles that “all things that the Father has are mine.” In His earthly life, heaven’s riches were set aside in order to accomplish His mission for the very creatures who had continuously shunned Him. His state of going from heaven’s throne to the footstool of the earth is well summed up in Philippians 2:6-8.

Paul finishes his word to them showing that all of this was accomplished so “that you through His poverty might become rich.” Those at Corinth may have wondered what type of giving would be appropriate. Paul showed them that the ultimate example of giving is found in Christ who had redeemed them. There is no amount they could give that would ever be truly exhausted. They had been raised to heaven itself and to all of its riches because of Christ Jesus. Their true wealth would never end and so whatever they gave would not affect them in any permanent sense.

Life application: Paul wrote to the Corinthians concerning giving. In doing so, he wrote to us also. We are included in that epistle if we have called on Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should remember that Christ gave up everything for us in order to live in this temporary world. As this is so, we should have no problem giving up any part of this temporary world because He has given all things to us. We have an eternal future with an everlasting fount of riches ahead of us.

Heavenly Father, Christ Jesus my Lord gave up all things in order to redeem me from this fallen world. He gave up heaven’s riches itself; coming and living a life of abject poverty so that I could become rich. And I am! I have eternal life ahead of me which contains an everlasting fount of wealth bubbling up from it. Because of this, help me to not get stuck in the temporary and fading wealth of this world. Help me to give freely of myself, my abilities, and my possessions. May the life I live for Jesus be an acknowledgment of my gratitude for the life He lived for me. Amen.

Friday, 2 October 2015

I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
2 Corinthians 8:8

Paul adds in a caveat to his words of the previous verses concerning the giving of a gift to the saints in Jerusalem. He had shown how great the gift of the Macedonians was despite their immense poverty in order to spur them on to giving as well. Also, in the previous verse, he challenged them to exceed in the gift of giving, just as they had exceeded in other gifts.

However, this was a challenge or even a plea, but it was “not by commandment.” The implication is that he had no instructions from the Lord concerning such a collection and he also had no desire to use his apostolic authority in a manner which would impose a collection on them. Rather, he made it a challenge in “testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.”

The word for “sincerity” here is gnésios. It is a word used only by Paul in the New Testament and it is only used four times. It is the contracted form of the word genesios which means “legitimately born” and thus “genuine.” For example, he calls Timothy his lawful son in the faith in 1 Timothy 1:2. Paul is testing the “genuineness” of their love in this challenge by comparing it to the earnestness of others, meaning those such as the Macedonians.

He has tactfully used his words about the Macedonians to spur the Corinthians on as if in an athletic challenge. In essence, “Who will prevail in this great challenge?”

Life application: There is nothing wrong with spurring the members of a congregation on to greater giving. However, to do so with implied or actual commands which do not exist is inappropriate. New Testament churches have no standing orders concerning giving other than a subjective “give as you have prospered.” Tithing is not something mandated in the New Testament. Instead, it was annulled along with the entire Old Testament law.

Lord God, I am so grateful that You allow us to give according to how we feel we have been blessed. Tithing no longer applies in the New Testament churches. Instead we can give based on the gratitude we have for the grace which has been lavished upon us. And so Lord, help our hearts to understand the enormity of what Christ did for us. Help us to give according to the greatness of His sacrifice – willingly and faithfully. Amen.

Thursday, 1 October 2015

But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. 2 Corinthians 8:7

Paul has been speaking to the Corinthians in a narrative fashion, explaining the events which have occurred concerning the giving of those in Macedonia. He now turns to exhortation in his address to them in order to spur them on to giving. In his words, he gives them hearty acknowledgments of their strengths in Christ.

He says first, “But as you abound in everything…” It is a way of saying that they have been richly supplied in so many ways. Though the list he will give includes spiritual gifts, he is certainly making a contrast to the “deep poverty” of the Macedonians which he previously mentioned. Due to their abounding (which surely included physical blessings as well as spiritual blessings), they should be able to supply a great gift to the saints in Jerusalem, just as those in Macedonia did.

He notes their “faith,” “speech,” “knowledge,” “diligence,” and “love.” He has addressed these attributes in one way or another already, and now he combines them to show how greatly God has lavished His grace upon them. Now he turns and exhorts them to “see that you abound in this grace also” when speaking of giving. It would be contrary for them to possess so many wonderful abilities and yet fail in the ability to share their material wealth with those who had less than they did.

God had supplied their every need, and now they were being shown a need in others that they could participate in alleviating. Paul has carefully tied all of these things into one summary exhortation to show them that they were in fact blessed in a marvelous way, and so they should be able to respond out of their abundance.

Life application: How much do you feel you have been blessed by the Lord? Have you considered that the gifts which have been lavished down upon you have been provided so that you could turn and help others? One can demonstrate their gratefulness to God by returning a portion of that to help in the needs of others.

Heavenly Father, You certainly have blessed me in a multitude of ways. I cannot thank You enough for every good gift which has rained down from Your hand of grace. Please help me to wisely pass on what I have received, helping others using the same gifts which You have granted to me. Help me to be one who freely passes on without attaching strings to the gifts as they go. They came freely from You; help me to freely hand them out as well. Amen.

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
2 Corinthians 8:6

The idea of Paul’s words here is that because of the immense generosity of those in Macedonia, the apostles were greatly encouraged in the idea of gathering the gift for the saints in Jerusalem. They may not have expected such an immense outpouring of generosity. However, if the poor churches of Macedonia could give such a marvelous gift, then perhaps it would be an exceedingly great one when the other offerings of other churches were added into it.

With this renewed sense of vigor, it says, “…we urged Titus.” As in other instances, Titus has been the “front man” for such things. He is sent with the desires of the apostles, or with their instructions for various things. As he was the one who brought back the report from the Corinthians which precipitated the writing of this epistle, he would be the logical choice to go back and finish the front work for the offering. As it says, “…that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.”

“This grace” is certainly speaking of the gift which those in Corinth had promised. With the great show of giving in Macedonia, Paul was truly encouraged to get about the business of a collection from the Corinthians. In addition to the gift itself, the words “this grace” may also be hinting at the other principle tenets of the letter as well. In combining the gift with the doctrinal instruction, there would be a smoothing over of both as they were being worked on at the same time.

What is implied in the coming verses is that the Corinthians had talked openly and in a large way about helping out in the offering Paul is discussing. By sending Titus along with this letter, he would be preparing them ahead of time for his arrival and keeping them from any embarrassing shortfalls in the actual gift compared to the grand promises of the past.

Life application: Paul’s use of Titus as a front man for handling the issues which have arisen in Corinth is a wise one. It avoids confrontation by having the issues settled without his personal intervention. Keeping such matters at the lowest level possible will normally avoid hierarchal conflicts which may otherwise arise.

Lord God, at times there are trials and difficulties within given congregations which can easily lead to people leaving the church or even having the church divide. Wisdom is needed at such times, but it must be wisdom based on Your word. Help us to remember to always go to the manual of instruction You have given us and to use those guidelines. Relying on this, along with prayer to Your throne of grace, is always the best avenue to take. Help us to rely on You as we should. Thank You Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 2 Corinthians 8:5

Paul is still speaking of those in Macedonia concerning their determination to give a gift for the benefit of the saints in Jerusalem. In the previous verse, he said they were “imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.” Adding to that now, he says that this was “not only as we had hoped.”

Having learned of their zeal to give, they expected this poor congregation to put forward a small amount as an offering. Instead they had far exceeded what they thought would be given. And more than that, “they first gave themselves to the Lord.” The congregation as a whole consecrated themselves to the matter, determining that what they had was set apart to the Lord and therefore everything about the gift was sacred. They put their energy, their time, and their ability into preparing the gift. The entire process was considered as to the Lord.

But Paul goes further and says that they gave themselves “to us by the will of God.” In this gift, they deferred to the directions and wishes of the apostles for how it was to be gathered and administered. Instead of insisting that they handle the process as if out of fear of it being mishandled, they trusted the apostles and their authority in the matter, knowing that they had been ordained by the will of God.

In this, those in Macedonia had followed a sound pattern of yielding themselves to God completely and wholly, understanding that it all came from Him. They trusted that it would be handled appropriately because it was He who selected the apostles and therefore they knew they would be acting in accord with His will.

Life application: The amount of the Macedonian’s love for the Lord and their trust for the apostles is evident in this verse. However, it needs to be understood that not all who claim they are appointed by God actually are. There are no apostles today. Anyone can get ordained as a minister and act in a pious manner. Christians, individually and collectively as a congregation, need to carefully evaluate each individual who seeks to obtain money from them. In all things, be willing to give heartily, but do so cautiously.

Heavenly Father, what I have came from You and belongs to You. And so help me to be wise in how I use my time, abilities, and possessions. Keep me from being stingy towards those with true needs, but also keep me from getting snookered by folks who would misuse a gift or offering I would make. As it is all Yours, fill me with wisdom to handle what is Yours with the greatest care. Amen.