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2 Corinthians 8:1. We inform you, brothers, about the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia. “Let us tell you, brothers, the grace of God given in the churches of Macedonia.” Having spoken about blessed Titus and having sufficiently pleased the Corinthians with praise, the Apostle added: “I rejoice because I am confident in you in everything”; and in fact shows his boldness and offers an exhortation to have providence for the saints. But first of all, he describes the sincere faith of the Macedonians, their feats of faith and generosity in poverty. “The grace of God” he called the acquisition of goods, not denying free will, but teaching that with God’s help only it is possible to accumulate the wealth of virtue. 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. “For in the many temptations of sorrows there is an abundance of their joy, and even in the depths of their poverty there is an abundance of abundance into the riches of their simplicity.” The Apostle spoke to them the highest word of praise, for he showed that they were complacent in sorrow and rich in generosity in extreme poverty; overwhelmed by waves from everywhere, they rejoice, as if carried by a fair wind, and, rarely having what they need, show generosity, as if drowning in wealth. 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 earnestly asked us to accept the gift and their participation in the ministry of the saints. “For by their power, I testify, and more than by the power of good will, with much supplication they implore us for grace and fellowship of service, even to the saints.” For I testify about them that their zeal exceeded their strength and they themselves forestalled our admonition, begging us to allow them to take care of serving the saints. And the Apostle called such service grace and fellowship, teaching both that he who gives to another himself gains profit, because those who serve become accomplices of those who receive the service. 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. 2 Corinthians 8:6. Therefore, we asked Titus to both begin and complete this good work with you. “And not as we hoped, but for ourselves before the Lord, and for us by the will of God: pray to us Titus, that as he began first, so also this grace may end in you.” This: “not as we hope,” says the Apostle, not about will, but about the amount of money. Looking at them, we expected that something small would be collected, but generosity prevailed over poverty; The reason for this is love for God, because they offered themselves as a gift to God, and also to us, as His servants. Therefore, seeing such diligence on their part, we convinced Titus to rush to you and finish the teaching he had begun before. Having thus excited the Corinthians with his praises of the Macedonians, he finally begins his instruction. 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. “But just as you abound in everything, by faith and word, and reason, and with all diligence, and love, even from you to us, even in this grace you abound.” The Apostle reminded them of spiritual gifts: “To one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit, and to another the word of understanding about the same Spirit: to another faith is given by the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:8-9), and testified to their mutual love, trying to inspire generosity with praise. 2 Corinthians 8:8. I say this not as a command, but through the diligence of others I test the sincerity of your love. “I speak not by command, but for the sake of others, tempting diligence and your true love.” I said this not as a command, but as an advice, with the intention of making you well-skilled. For for this reason he pointed out to you the zeal of the Macedonians. Then he presents the highest example. 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. “For I know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, for because of your poverty he is rich, so that through his poverty you may be rich.” For look at the Creator and Lord of all, the Only Begotten Son of God, who for the sake of our salvation took upon Himself extreme poverty, preparing for us; From poverty comes wealth. 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. 2 Corinthians 8:11. Now do the work itself, so that what you earnestly desire will be fulfilled in abundance. “And I give advice about this: for this is for your benefit, not just what you do, but also what you want, first and foremost from the last summer. Now stop doing this too, so that as much as you want, so you will be able to do it.” I say this, caring about what is useful for you, and having learned in advance about your zeal, because we have long discovered it before us. Therefore, to zeal we must add the evidence of deeds. For with the word “want” the Apostle expressed zeal; this is how he explains it in the following words. 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. “If diligence is due, it is favorable for someone to have, but not to have.” For zeal must be perfect: God usually measures what is offered by the strength of each; looks not at the quantity, but at the quality of intention. 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. 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. “It may not be joy for others, but sorrow for you! but according to comparison, at the present time your abundance is in their deprivation, and their abundance will also be in your deprivation, as if there were equality, as it is written: whoever has much, he has not increased to eat! and what is small, he did not diminish” (Ex. 16:18). The Lord defines perfection as complete contempt for property and voluntary poverty; however, he teaches that even without this perfection it is possible to improve eternal life; for to the young man’s question: “What, having created the eternal life, will I inherit?” (Luke 10:25) - did not suddenly offer him a teaching about perfection, but reminded him of other commandments and, when the young man said that he had fulfilled all the commandments, he advised him to choose a life that was carefree and non-covetous. Taught by this, the divine Apostle does not legitimize anything great, but proportions the laws to the weakness of the spirit. That’s why he said: “It is not joy for others, but sorrow for you,” and he ordered that the excess be given; He also showed the benefits that come from this, “and the excess of these will be to your deprivation.” The reward, he says, will be excellent and, having given a little, you will receive more, because you will participate in their praiseworthy patience. Very opportunely, he also brought evidence, for the Lord demonstrated this equality during the collection of manna: the one who collected more did not receive any benefit, because the Greatly Gifted One combined the measure with the gift. 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. “Thanks be to God, who also gave care for you in Tito’s heart: since he accepted the prayer, he who was most diligent, of his own will, came to you.” The Apostle again allowed them to see Titus’s love for them, ensuring that they would be more obedient to his instructions. 2 Corinthians 8:18. We also sent with him a brother who was praised in all churches for his gospel. 2 Corinthians 8:19. And, moreover, those 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. “We sent with him also his brother, whose praise is in the gospel in all the churches: not a shadow, but also sanctified from the churches to walk with us with this grace, which we serve to the glory of the Lord Himself and our zeal.” In what the Apostle said, the features of the most blessed Barnabas are depicted, because he was awarded ordination in Antioch with blessed Paul, when the Divine Spirit said: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work for which I called them” (Acts 13:2), and subsequently in Jerusalem, together with Paul, he concluded a condition with the divine apostles, as Paul says: “and Peter “and James and John, who were like pillars of life, and gave me and Barnabas fellowship as right hands, that we may be of tongues, and they may be circumcision, even the poor, that we may remember” (Gal. 2:9-10). The Apostle reminded us of this in the present case, for he said: “he is sanctified to walk with us with this grace, which we serve,” that is, service to the saints; then he added: “to the glory of the Lord Himself and our zeal,” because in this the Lord is glorified, but we prove our own zeal. But the Apostle also says why he sent such a man. 2 Corinthians 8:20. Beware lest we be reproached by anyone with such an abundance of offerings entrusted to our service. “Beware that no one will reproach us for the abundance of this we serve.” Let us avoid that anyone, seeing the abundance of money collected, should think something else; Therefore, I accept many admirable men into the fellowship of this ministry. 2 Corinthians 8:21. For we strive for good not only before the Lord, but also before people. “Providentially kind not only before God, but also before men.” Not content with the testimony of the Lord alone, we want people to have a good understanding of us and benefit from it. 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. “By the messenger of our brother with them, who was tempted by many, the being rose up in many, but now the hope of many in you has risen with great hope.” The Apostle praised this one too, but did not declare who he was. Others say that this is Apollos, because even in the First Epistle he promised to send him. 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. “If it is Titus, a companion to me and a companion to you: and our brethren, messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.” Just as I affirm about Titus that he became my companion in preaching and an accomplice for your benefit, so about others that they are our brethren, and ambassadors of the Churches, and the glory of the Lord Christ, because those who look at the luminosity of their virtues glorify the God preached at this. 2 Corinthians 8:24. Therefore, before the churches, give them proof of your love and that we justly boast about you. “Show your love and our praise for you to them also in the face of the churches.” Therefore, reveal all the riches of your love and confirm my praise for you, for in this way you honor all the Churches. You might be interested in: