2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 8:1

Now I thought good to mention to you the liberal collection for the poor which hath been made (see Acts ii. 47, and iv. 34, and note [d] 1 Pet. iii.) at Philippi and Thessalonica and other churches in Macedonia;

2 Corinthians 8:2

That being under an heavy affliction themselves, they were very cheerful in their liberality; being themselves in the depth of poverty, they expressed a very great bounty to others.

2 Corinthians 8:3

For having no obligation upon them to do so, as being poor, ver. 2, and not being solicited by me, they did voluntarily contribute what they were able, nay, I may truly say, more than they could well spare;

2 Corinthians 8:4

Instead of being entreated by me, earnestly beseeching me to receive their charity and collection, (see note [c] Acts ii.) and convey it from them for the relief of the poor Christians in Judaea.

2 Corinthians 8:5

And not only this, but as they had first given themselves up to the service of God, so they offered me their service also, (God so moving them,) that is, not only their bounty but their pains, not only to send or give their goods, but to go themselves, some of their company, to Corinth,

2 Corinthians 8:6

On a message from me to desire Titus, who had before done somewhat among you concerning this contribution to the poor Christians in Judaea, that he would now perfect it among you,

2 Corinthians 8:7

And that as ye have been richly furnished with faith in believing yourselves all that hath been revealed to you, with ability of instructing others, with knowledge of mysteries, (see notes [b] [c] 1 Cor. i.) with all care and industry to do whatever you could to bring forth fruits of faith, and with extreme kindness towards me, so ye would exceed in this liberality and contribution toward the poor Christians also.

2 Corinthians 8:8

This I say not by way of precept or command, laying any obligation upon you, (see ver. 10,) but only by mentioning how forward others have been, the Macedonians by name, when they were themselves

[a] for a season] The word ὥρα signifies a season, and any part of time indefinitely, but yet both in Greek and Latin is oft used for a small or short space: so Philemon, ver. 15, πρὸς ὥραν, for a short space, and 1 Thess. ii. 17, πρὸς καιρὸν ὥρας, for the space of an hour, that is, for a short space. And so here εἰ καὶ πρὸς ὥραν, though but for an hour, that is, for a short space; which being joined with ἐλύπησεν ὑμᾶς, hath grieved you, in the notion of that phrase for inflicting the censures, (see note [c] on 1 Cor. v.) it denotes the infliction of some penance, a sentence of abstention for a while, for a short space, (for the bringing forth fruits of repentance,) after which it is to be remitted again. This the Nicene fathers express by this style, ἐφ’ ὧν καὶ χρόνος ὥριστοι καὶ καιρὸς τέτακται, “for whose censures the time is determined, and season set;” Zonaras by καιροὶ ὡρισμένοι τῇ μετανοίᾳ τῶν πεπτωκότων, “the times set for the penance of the lapsed.” And this is answerable to the Nidui among the Jews, a remotion for thirty days. Another sort of censures there was, sine præfinito tempore, “without determining of the time,” irrevocabile anathema, in Alcimus, perennis excommunicatio, “a lasting, irrevocable excommunication,” Concil. Turon. 2. c. 20, and Concil. Paris. 3. can. 5; but this not absolutely so, but usque ad reformationem, “for ever, if they reform not.” Hereby it appears that it was not only the incestuous person, 1 Cor. v. 1, which is here referred to, for he was delivered up to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, and that is parallel to the perennis excommunicatio, “the durable excommunication,” or that which was to continue until reformation; but others, it seems, which had been found fault with in that Epistle, (as he that went to law, ch. vi. and the like,) fell under the censures, though only πρὸς ὥραν, for a definite time, that they might bring forth fruits of repentance: and accordingly they did, ver. 11.

2 Corinthians 8:9

For to such performances as these ye can want no motives, when ye consider the example of Christ in his dealings toward us; his liberality and bounty in exhausting himself for us, submitting himself to so mean a condition, and even to death itself, that thereby ye and all that will make use of his bounty may be spiritually enriched.

2 Corinthians 8:10

And herein, though for the degree of your liberality no precept doth oblige you, Christ’s command of relieving the poor leaving to you the liberty to determine the proportion, yet I shall give you my opinion, that as you have formerly expressed some forwardness, not only to do somewhat for that present, but to resolve to do more if you had been or when you should be able, so it will not now be for your credit, or the reputation of your bounty, to fall short of that purpose.

[a] to be forward] What θέλιν, to will, signifies in this place will appear by the ποιῆσαι, to do, precedent: for when to will goes before doing, as Phil. ii. 13 it doth, then it must be conceived to denote the resolving of that which is after done; but when it is subsequent to doing, as here, then it cannot belong to that, but to some further action still future, either of the same kind with that formerly done, or of any other which is specified. That here it refers to some further degree of liberality to be superadded to what they had already done, appears by the ensuing exhortation to consummate the work, ver. 11, and by the mention of the προθυμία τοῦ θέλιν, the forwardness to will, that is, to resolve to do more, as they should be able. In which respect it is that ch. ix. 2, Paul saith he hath boasted of them, that they had (ἀπὸ πέρυσι, as here, from a year ago) made a preparation for this new supply, for so παρεσκεύασται, hath been prepared, signifies, as passives are oft used for reciprocals. As for the τοῦτο ὑμῖν συμφέρει, this is profitable for you in the former part of this verse, though it may fitly be applied to several ways of profit, that their liberality would probably

2 Corinthians 8:11

And therefore now you may do well to perfect what ye then began, that as then at a distance ye were forward to make the resolution, so you may now perform according to your present ability.

2 Corinthians 8:12

For supposing a man cheerfully to do what he is able, that resolution of his, if it be performed, that is, if he do according to his ability, shall be well accepted and rewarded by God, and that which he is not able to do shall never be expected of him. 13, 14. And this collection that I speak of is not so designed, that other men should be released of their burden by having it laid on your shoulders, that they should be made up by your liberality, and you distressed by giving them; but that there may be an equality; you relieving them now in this time of famine in Jewry out of your plenty, and when you want, as they now do, they, when the famine is over, should relieve you again out of their plenty:

2 Corinthians 8:15

That as it was in the gathering of manna, no man had the more or the less for gathering more or less; so it might be among fellow-Christians; they that had for the present less possessions should yet by supply from others have sufficient, and they that had greater possessions, by relieving others, have no more left to them than they had need of.

2 Corinthians 8:16

And what I write to you for your advantage by way of care of (and advice to) you, it seems Titus hath had in his mind already, out of the same care of you, God be thanked, who put it into his heart.

2 Corinthians 8:17

For he was very willing at the first word, nay, prevented my exhortation, and before he was spoken to, of his own free choice he went to you about it.

2 Corinthians 8:18

And with him we sent the evangelist, (probably St. Luke, see note on Rom. xvi. 6,) whose diligence in preaching the gospel through all churches is so much commended,

2 Corinthians 8:19

And whom the bishops in synod ordained to go along with me this journey, and was not by myself chosen to it, (see 1 Cor. xvi. 3,) to carry this collection (wherein I had done nothing but as a servant and officer made use of by the Macedonians,) to the honour of God, (whose servants they were that were thus relieved, and whose grace it was that the Macedonians were so liberal,) and to the stirring up your alacrity and forwardness by their example.

2 Corinthians 8:20

This I then did; and of this I now give this so particular account, as being very careful that I might not be under suspicion or censure in managing or disposing that great sum of money collected or received by me:

2 Corinthians 8:21

Providing for a good reputation before men, as well as for a good conscience before God.

2 Corinthians 8:22

And with Titus and Luke I have, by consent of the churches, ver. 19, sent a third, of whose industry and diligence we have often had experience, but in this business found him much more willing to be industrious, upon the special confidence he hath of your goodness and expected liberality.

¹⁶ He that had much, Ὁ τὸ πολὺ. ¹⁹ nay, being more diligent he went out to you of his own accord, σπουδαιότερος δὲ ὑπάρχων, αὐθαίρετος ἐξῆλθε πρὸς ὑμᾶς. ²⁰ who is praised for the gospel, οὐ ὁ ἕπαινος ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ. ²¹ ordained by the churches our fellow-traveller, χειροτονηθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν συνείδημος ἡμῶν. ²² charity dispensed, χάριτι διακονομένη. ²³ the Lord himself, and your forwardness of mind, or, encouragement, αὐτοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ προθυμίαν ὑμῶν. ²⁴ taking care of this, στελλόμενοι τοῦτο. ²⁵ dispensed, τῇ διακονομένη. ²⁶ forecasting what will be honest, προνοούμενοι καλά.