Глава VIII

An exhortation to help Titus in collecting alms for the Jerusalem Christians (1-15). Recommendation to the brethren sent by Paul (16–24). 2 Corinthians 8:1–15. In the VIII and IX chapters of Ap. talks about the work he has undertaken - collecting alms for saints or for Christians. To encourage the Corinthians to be generous in this matter, Apostle. points out to them the generosity that the Macedonians showed before them. He then reminds the Corinthians that they have already begun to collect alms, and says that he does not require them to sacrifice beyond their means. 2 Corinthians 8:1. We inform you, brethren, of the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 2 Corinthians 8:2. for in the midst of great trial and sorrow they abound in joy; and their deep poverty abounds in the wealth of their hospitality. 2 Corinthians 8:3. For they are willing according to their strength and beyond their strength - I am a witness: 2 Corinthians 8:4. they very convincingly asked us to accept the gift and their participation in serving the saints; 2 Corinthians 8:5. and not only what we hoped for, but they gave themselves, firstly, to the Lord, then to us, according to the will of God: The Macedonian Churches (in Philippi, Thessaloniki, Veria) were themselves in a rather difficult situation at that time. Nevertheless, the Christians there were able to understand the needs of others and, despite their own needs, begged Paul to accept alms from them for the poor Jerusalem Christians, one might say, taking what they needed from themselves. At the same time, Paul notes that by doing this they first of all wanted to express their devotion to “the Lord,” i.e., Christ, and then to the Apostle, being confident that such a thing was completely in accordance with the will of God. 2 Corinthians 8:6. Therefore, we asked Titus that he, just as he began, would also finish this good work with you. “Therefore,” that is, in view of this behavior of the Macedonians, Paul did not want the Corinthians to lag behind them in their zeal for collecting alms. – “Good deed” – more precisely from Greek: grace. By calling alms this way, the Apostle thereby makes it clear that it likens a person to God, the source of grace, and, on the other hand, is itself accomplished under the influence of God’s grace, which softens the human heart. 2 Corinthians 8:7. And just as you abound in everything: faith and word, and knowledge, and all zeal, and your love for us, so abound in this virtue. 2 Corinthians 8:8. I say this not as a command, but through the diligence of others I test the sincerity of your love. Ap., as in 1 Cor 7:25, 35, 40, does not order the Corinthians, but only gives them an opportunity to show their Christian mood. 2 Corinthians 8:9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich. To convince the Corinthians Apostle. reminds them what Christ did out of love for people (cf. Phil. II: 6 et seq.). 2 Corinthians 8:10. I give advice on this: for it is useful for you, who not only began to do this, but also desired it since the past year. The Corinthians should be even more encouraged to collect alms by the fact that they not only made collection as something obligatory for every Christian, but also applied a special desire or zeal to this matter, even earlier than the Macedonians. Busse translates the second half of the verse as follows: “who, even if they did not begin to do (collection), still already had the desire to do so.” The Syriac translation renders this passage as follows: “not only by desire, but also by deed.” 2 Corinthians 8:11. Now do the work itself, so that what you earnestly desire will be fulfilled in abundance. 2 Corinthians 8:12. For if there is zeal, then it is accepted according to who has what, and not according to what he does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:13. It is not required that there should be relief for others and heaviness for you, but that there should be evenness. The Apostle explains that alms should be given according to means, so that a person does not remain poor. In fact, if such an unlimited distribution of one’s fortune took place, then the number of beggars would grow and grow, and those who again received alms should immediately give what they received to those from whom the alms were received, and who themselves remained completely poor. Moreover, the Apostle could not demand such alms, because this would mean demanding from all Christians together that they rise to the highest level of Christian perfection (cf. Luke 10:25 et seq.). 2 Corinthians 8:14. Now your abundance is to make up for their lack; and then their excess to make up for your lack, so that there is uniformity, 2 Corinthians 8:15. as it is written: he who gathered much had nothing to spare; and whoever had little had no lack 9 . A new motive for collecting alms. It is obvious that churches composed of converted pagans sometimes also suffered material need, as in the present case the Church of Jerusalem. - Then hinting that the excessively collected manna did not bring much benefit to the collector and that with a small collection, the one who collected still received satiety with this wonderful food, Ap. This makes it clear that in general “a person’s life does not depend on the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). 2 Corinthians 8:16–24. The Apostle speaks of those men whom he sends to accept the alms collected in Corinth, and recommends them as people worthy of trust and respect. 2 Corinthians 8:16. Thanks be to God, who has placed such zeal for you in Tito’s heart. 2 Corinthians 8:17. For, although I asked him, he, however, being very zealous, went to you voluntarily. First of all, Ap. recommends Titus, who quite voluntarily took on the difficult mission of collecting alms among the Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 8:18. We also sent with him a brother, praised in all churches for his gospel, 2 Corinthians 8:19. and, moreover, chosen from the churches to accompany us for this good work, which we serve for the glory of the Lord Himself and in accordance with your zeal, In addition to Titus, Paul sent a special “brother” to Corinth, that is, a Christian who was known as a preacher and at the same time received authority from the churches (according to the Greek text: dedicated or ordained) to collect alms and verify the collected amounts. He was supposed to accompany Ap everywhere. Paul, in order to relieve him of the worry of checking and storing the collected alms. Seeing such a careful attitude towards the donations collected from them, the Corinthians were more willing to do charity. Who was this brother - Ap. doesn't speak. It is assumed that it was Barnabas or Luke, but this is hardly probable, since this brother still occupied a secondary position under Titus, while Barnabas and Luke could not be placed below Titus. 2 Corinthians 8:20. being careful lest we be reproached by anyone with such an abundance of offerings entrusted to our service; 2 Corinthians 8:21. for we strive for good not only before the Lord, but also before people. The apostle wanted to be pure and blameless not only in the eyes of God, but also before people. Why, in fact, give them any reason to have any suspicions regarding the fate of the collected donations? Let them know and see that Paul himself does not touch the money that he worked so hard to collect. 2 Corinthians 8:22. We also sent with them our brother, whose zeal we have tested many times in many ways, and who is now even more zealous because of his great confidence in you. In addition to the above two, the Apostle sends a third collector by his own election, as a particularly zealous person, who, moreover, is quite confident in the disposition of the Corinthians towards him and the work entrusted to him by Apostle. Pavel. 2 Corinthians 8:23. As for Titus, this is my friend and colleague with you; and as for our brothers, these are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 2 Corinthians 8:24. Therefore, before the churches, give them proof of your love and that we justly boast about you. Once again recommending all those sent, the Apostle calls two unnamed collectors “the glory of Christ.” This means that such people constitute the adornment of Christ’s Church, that they glorify Christ by their behavior. That says it all! You might be interested in: