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2 Corinthians 8:1. We inform you, brethren, of the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, It was not in vain that he gave them so much praise above, but for the purpose of softening them, for he intended to induce them to love poverty. That’s why I said above: “I can rely on you,” that is, whatever I tell you, you do. However, he did not immediately say: give alms, but, setting as an example what others have done, he excites them to similar jealousy. Note that the disposition to alms is called “the grace of God.” Through this he makes his word blameless, and calls the Corinthians to alms as a gift from God. And he did not say: in this or that city, but praises all Macedonia, so that they all would also be jealous. 2 Corinthians 8:2. for in the midst of great trial and sorrow they abound with joy, That is, having many sorrows, they become more skilled through patience; did not fall, but rejoiced more, not just rejoiced, but rejoiced more abundantly. 2 Corinthians 8:3. and their deep poverty abounds in the wealth of their hospitality. That is, just as their great sorrow produced an abundance of joy, so their great and extreme poverty not only did not prevent them from giving alms, but even more prompted them to “abundantly in wealth.” He didn’t say; in the wealth of alms, but “cordiality,” that is, a sincere disposition to generosity. For charity is valued not by the quantity of what is given, but by the disposition of the givers. It is surprising that with such poverty (for they were cut off from their fellow tribesmen) they showed such generosity. 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 asked us very earnestly. He explains what was said above and says: “within his strength,” even “beyond his strength”; for this is an excess of simplicity, that is, what is “beyond one’s strength.” Moreover, they were not admonished by us, but were “willing.” So what am I saying? They themselves asked and begged us a lot. He says this in order to encourage them not so much to give a lot, but to give willingly. For this purpose, he dwells on this subject. accept the gift and their participation in serving the saints, Words are missing here: they asked us to accept this ministry. He said: “gift,” so that the Corinthians, as they were zealous for spiritual gifts, would resort to alms as a gift, as mentioned above. He called it “participation” so that they would know that by giving to others, they themselves receive. 2 Corinthians 8:5. and not only what we hoped for, We did not hope that those in such poverty and in such sorrow would ask us to accept their ministry. but they gave themselves, firstly, to the Lord, then to us, according to the will of God, Here he testifies to their other virtues. For they did not become proud of the fact that they gave alms, and did not care about other virtues, but completely devoted themselves to the Lord, completely and inseparably bowed down to every godly deed. “And to us” they betrayed themselves, that is, they were submissive in everything, they showed love “according to the will of God,” that is, as God pleases, and not human calculation. 2 Corinthians 8:6. Therefore, we asked Titus that he, just as he began, would also finish this good work with you. They, he says, gave themselves up to alms to such an extent that I, seeing their work, took care of you so that you would not be worse than them, and therefore asked Titus to go to you, because he himself “began,” that is, suggested going to you before I asked him. Through this, he also attracts them to Titus, so that when he comes and begins to persuade them to give alms, they will more easily be inclined to his convictions, as someone who is thinking about what concerns their salvation. And again he called alms a good deed. For she truly is a great good and gift of God, and giving her makes us like God. That is why the wise one said, “many praise a man for his mercy” (Prov. 20:6). 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. He exhorts with praise and says; Since you have everything else in abundance, then in this matter, not only give alms, but give it in abundance: which means either that they surpass the Macedonians, or that they are simply more generous. “By faith,” that is, the gifts of undoubted faith; “word”, that is, the word of wisdom; “knowledge”, that is, knowledge of dogmas; “and with all zeal,” that is, zeal for other virtues, “and with your love for us.” For before he said that you proved your love for me to Titus by being jealous of me. 2 Corinthians 8:8. I'm not saying this as a command, That is, without forcing you or doing violence to you. but through the zeal of others I experience the sincerity of your love. That is, for this reason I praise the Macedonians, so that through their zeal I can show your love for the poor saints more praiseworthy and more brilliant. 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. That is, think and meditate on the great mystery, and spare nothing. For, he says, if you do not believe that poverty produces wealth, then remember your Master, and you will no longer doubt. For if He had not become poor, that is, He had not accepted fallen and dishonorable flesh and had not endured all other disgrace, and, moreover, for us, unworthy, His enemies, then we would not have become rich. What kind of wealth is he talking about? About piety, about purification, about sanctification and about other benefits that He gave and gives. 2 Corinthians 8:10. I give this advice: for it is profitable for you, Look how he takes care not to be a burden to them. “Advice,” he says, “I give,” that is, I advise, and do not impose necessity; I advise you so that it may benefit you more than those who receive it. who not only began to do this, but also wanted it since last year. 2 Corinthians 8:11. Now do the deed itself, He convinces them not by the jealousy of others, but by their own disposition, saying: you have voluntarily reached the same point and not only laid the foundation for doing, but also for wanting, that is, doing of your own free will, without any external admonition. Therefore, I advise you now to carry out your task. so that what they earnestly desired would be fulfilled in abundance. So that a wonderful work does not stop at mere zeal, but is actually accomplished. For just as disposition and will produce desire, so action comes from possession. So, whoever has it, let him do the work, and whoever doesn’t, let him do the work voluntarily. 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. Notice the wisdom of how, having praised the Macedonians, I mean the Thessalonians, for doing “beyond their strength,” he does not demand anything beyond his strength from them. If, he says, you have zeal, give according to your strength; God accepts it. 2 Cor.8:13. It is not necessary for others to feel relief and for you to feel heaviness, You, he says, should not give beyond your strength so that others spend their lives in luxury and pleasure, while you suffer need and sorrow as a result. The Lord praised the widow for giving everything she had (Mark 12:44). But Paul does not do this now, partly because the Corinthians were still weak, and partly because they were rich, so that if they had given according to their strength, it would have been a large, respectable and rich alms. Moreover, the apostle hopes that the example of the Thessalonians will motivate the Corinthians to do more, and therefore leaves the matter to their will. And in the following words he imperceptibly encourages them to do the same. but so that there is uniformity. 2 Corinthians 8:14. Now your abundance is to make up for their lack; and then their excess to make up for your lack, That is, you are rich in property, and they are rich in boldness towards God. Therefore, give them from the abundance of your possessions what they do not have, so that you may receive in return the boldness in which they are rich and in which you lack. Look how imperceptibly he forces them to serve beyond their strength. If, he says, you want to receive from the excess, then give from the excess; if you want to receive full reward, then give in full yourself, that is, both from lack and beyond strength; however, he does not say this explicitly. So, until now he has been convincing, it seems, to give as much as he can. 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. How will there be equality? If you and they mutually give each other excesses and make up for each other's shortcomings. But what kind of equality is it to give spiritual things for carnal things? Here, of course, equality is not in relation to the value or pricelessness of what is given and what is received in return, but in relation to excess and deprivation: you give from your excesses, and they give from their excesses; and again: you get what you need, and they get what they need. This equality entirely applies to the present time, and what is in the future century has a great advantage over what is being presented. So, humble yourself, you rich, because in things that are permanent and imperishable, you are superior to the poor. He gives the example of what happened during the gathering of manna to show how equality occurs. Namely: when a rich man, who has a lot, gives an excess to someone who has a little, then he himself does not have excess, nor does the one who has a little lack what he received from him. The same thing happens with boldness towards God. At the same time, it also inspires something more, showing the rich that just as when collecting manna, everyone, both those who collected more and those who collected less, found in themselves in equal measure, with which God punished their gluttony, so now they should not desire more. 2 Corinthians 8:16. Thanks be to God, who has placed such zeal for you in Tito’s heart, Having said the necessary things about alms, he finally praises those sent for them, so that they, being free from suspicion, could more quickly arouse them to be ready to donate. Since the first of them was Titus, he praises him, and calls his initiation into this service the work of God. For He gave him the same care that I have for you. Here he convinces them to give honorable alms. For if God aroused him, then, without a doubt, God asks you to make an alms worthy of God. 2 Corinthians 8:17. for, although I asked him, he, being very zealous, went to you voluntarily. What shows that God aroused Titus? From the fact that when I asked him, he readily accepted the request, and did not complain, but went voluntarily, for when I had not yet asked him, he already had his own zeal. 2 Corinthians 8:18. We also sent with him a brother, praised in all churches for his gospel, Some understand Luke because of the Gospel written by him; others - Barnabas, since the apostle calls unwritten preaching the gospel. He is not praised like Titus, because he was not known to the Corinthians, but Titus was quite well known to them. However, there is enough praise for him too; for he does not simply say that he preaches the Gospel, but that he is “praised,” not in two or three, but in all churches. 2 Corinthians 8:19. and, moreover, chosen from the churches to accompany us for this good work that we serve, He praises the man and the judgment of those who chose him: not only, he says, is he glorified as worthily preaching the gospel, but he was also chosen from the churches to accompany us, so that he would be our companion both in temptations and in dangers. This is more befitting of Barnabas. “Elected” into this grace, that is, to administer alms, to serve with us. for the glory of the Lord Himself and in accordance with your zeal, That is, so that God will be glorified, and you will become more diligent, for when those who accept alms are proven people, then no one can have suspicions about them. 2 Corinthians 8:20. being careful lest we be reproached by anyone with such an abundance of offerings entrusted to our service, This is worthy of Paul’s holy soul and much care and condescension. We, he says, sent these men, not just one, but several, “being careful,” that is, assuming and fearing that someone would suspect us that we were using some of the alms for our own benefit. And he did not say: so that you would not suspect, but: “from whom,” so that they would not be offended and think that they were suspected of such an opinion about him. And abundance itself, he says, that is, the abundance of alms, can easily arouse suspicion in evil people if we do not take precautions. 2 Corinthians 8:21. for we strive for good not only before the Lord, but also before people. Look how Paul's soul was worried, so as not to give the brethren a reason to be tempted. For he did not say: I am pure, let him slander whoever he wants, but both before God, he says, and before people, “we strive for good,” that is, we try to appear impeccable, and the weaker they are, the more we should be lenient with them, because we are lenient with little children when we nurse them. 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. He adds another, calling him brother and approving him on the basis of testing and judgment, as a man who is diligent in many things and has proven himself so many times. To elevate speech in this way is characteristic of praise. Now, he says, he has become even more diligent, as if in the hope that you will give more generous alms to which he serves. 2 Corinthians 8:23. As for Titus, this is my comrade and colleague with you, That is, if I have to say something about Titus, then I will say that he is “my comrade” - he helps me in teaching you and bringing you benefit. Or: if you do something for Titus, you will not do it for an ordinary person, but for my friend. That is, if you want to hear something about others, then they also have great rights to your trust; for they are our brothers. these are the messengers of the churches, That is, they were sent and chosen from the churches. What is most important, I put it at the end. Whatever is in them is said to refer to Christ. 2 Corinthians 8:24. Therefore, before the churches, give them proof of your love and that we justly boast about you. Now, he says, show how you love us and how it is not in vain that we boast about you. And you will show it if you show them love. For what you do for them, you will do “before the churches,” that is, for the honor of the churches; for they represent the face of the churches that sent them. You might be interested in: