1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

10And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

16But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

17For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

18And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

19And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

23Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

COMMENTARY by Dr. Dave Burnette

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Paul

Date Penned: (55-57 AD)

Overview: Paul Addresses the Church (c 1-13)

Theme: Paul Defends the Collection (c 8-9)

Message: Generous Giving Glorifies the Lord (v 1-)

2 Corinthians 8 Commentary

(8:1-15) A Call to Generous Giving - About a year before the writing of 2 Corinthians, the believers in Corinth had started collecting money for the poor in Jerusalem (see 8:10). First Corinthians instructed the Corinthians to set aside money every week for the offering (see 1 Corinthians 16:1-4). But that collection had floundered (see 8:10-11). It appears that greedy, traveling preachers (2:17) had suggested that Paul had invented the collection to extort money from the congregation. They asserted this, even though Paul had taken no money from the Corinthians to support his own ministry (7:2; 11:7-9; 12:14-17). He had supported himself as a tentmaker when he was in Corinth (Acts 18:1-4). These traveling preachers may have very well wanted to divert the money to themselves (2:17). In any case, one of the purposes of 2 Corinthians was to encourage the Corinthians (in a diplomatic way) to finish the collection they had started a year ago (8:10-11; 9:1-3).

(8:16-24) Titus and His Companions - The rest of chapter 8 is, in essence, a letter of recommendation for Titus and two anonymous “brothers.” Titus was an official representative of Paul, while the “brothers” were representatives of churches that had contributed to the Jerusalem fund (see 8:18, 22).

LIFE APPLICATION by Dr. Dave Burnette

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of 2nd Corinthians with Chapter 8 and in our text we see Paul describes how generous giving glorifies the Lord as other Churches of the day gave sacrificially being poor themselves. In their generosity the Lord provided for the giver both financially and spiritually. In making application we see the same principle today as we are instructed in the Bible to give financially and when we obey and give sacrificially we see the Lord providing everything we need both financially and spiritually. How about you? Do you see this provision of the Lord as You give sacrificially? Let us learn from our text today and the instruction of Paul to see that the Lord does not need our money but rather sees our heart as we give to Him sacrificially and responds to us both financially and spiritually when we give of our resources as He will repay in a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over..

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