2 Corinthians 8:1-15

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

[1] Moreover,  brethren,  to wit  of the grace  of God  bestowed  on  the churches  of Macedonia;  [2] How that  in  a great  trial  of affliction  the abundance  of their  joy  and  their  deep  poverty  abounded  unto  the riches  of their  liberality.  [3] For  to  their power,  I bear record,  yea, and  their power  they were willing of themselves;  [4] Praying  with  much  intreaty  the gift,  and  take upon us the fellowship  of the ministering  to  the saints.  [5] And  this they did, not  as  we hoped,  but  first  gave  their own selves  to the Lord,  and  by  the will  of God.  [6] Insomuch  desired  Titus,  that  as  he had begun,  so  also  finish  in  grace  also.  [7] Therefore,  as  ye abound  in  every  thing, in faith,  and  utterance,  and  knowledge,  and  in all  diligence,  and  love  to  see that  ye abound  in  grace  also.  [8] I speak  not  by  commandment,  but  by occasion  of the forwardness  of others,  and  to prove  the sincerity  of your  love.  [9] For  ye know  the grace  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that,  rich,  sakes  he became poor,  that  through his  poverty  might be rich.  [10] And  herein  I give  my advice:  for  is expedient  who  have begun before,  not  only  to do,  but  also  to be forward  a year  ago.  [11] Now  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.  [12] For  if there  be first  a willing mind,  it is accepted  according to  that  hath,  and not  according to that  he hath  not.  [13] For  I mean not  that  other men  be eased,  burdened:  [14] an equality,  that now  at  this time  abundance  may be a supply for  their  want,  that  their  abundance  also  may be  a supply for  want:  that  there may be  equality:  [15] As  it is written,  He that had gathered  much  nothing  over;  and  he that had gathered  little  no  lack. 

What does 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The New Testament reveals that Paul was actively collecting money for "the poor among the saints in Jerusalem" ( Romans 15:26) for about five years (A.D52-57). He solicited funds from the Christians in Galatia ( Acts 18:23; 1 Corinthians 16:1), Macedonia ( Acts 19:22; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 9:4), Achaia ( Romans 15:26; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9), and Asia Minor ( Acts 20:35). [1] Delegates from most of these regions accompanied Paul when he took the gift to Jerusalem ( Acts 20:4).
The recipients were Hebrew Christians who were poor for several reasons. Conversion to Christianity, and particularly baptism, resulted in social and economic ostracism in Jerusalem society where Judaism dominated all of life. The communal sharing of goods that the early Christians in Jerusalem practiced did not solve their economic problems (cf. Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32; Acts 4:34-35). All Palestinian residents suffered from lack of food due to a famine that descended during the reign of Emperor Claudius (A.D46 , Acts 11:27-30). As the mother church of Christianity, the Jerusalem church probably had a larger number of teachers, missionaries, and visitors to support than its daughter churches did. Finally, Jews, including Jewish Christians, who lived in Palestine had to pay double taxes, to Rome and to the Jewish authorities.
Why did Paul devote so much of his time and energy to raising and delivering this collection? Undoubtedly love for his needy Christian brethren was a primary motivation ( Romans 12:13; Romans 13:8; Galatians 6:10). He also believed this gift would honor Jesus Christ ( 2 Corinthians 8:19). It would help equalize God"s provision for His people"s physical needs too ( 2 Corinthians 8:13-15). Moreover, it provided a visual demonstration of the equality that exists between Gentile and Jewish Christians ( Ephesians 2:11-22). It was something that God might use to allay Jewish suspicions of Christianity and of Paul"s mission to the Gentiles (cf. Acts 11:2-3). It also illustrated the spiritual indebtedness that the Gentiles owed to their Jewish brethren ( Romans 15:19; Romans 15:27; 1 Corinthians 9:11). Personally it was one way that Paul could compensate in part for his earlier persecution of the Jerusalem saints ( Acts 8:3; Acts 9:1; Acts 26:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; 1 Timothy 1:13).
Paul wrote as he did in the following two chapters of2Corinthians to facilitate the collection and to set forth a philosophy of Christian stewardship. This is not the first that the Corinthians had heard about this collection. Paul"s abrupt introduction of "the collection for the saints" in 1 Corinthians 16:1 and his subsequent discussion of it in that chapter suggest that he had spoken to them about it previously. Evidently they began to participate but then dropped the project. Probably the controversy concerning Paul that developed contributed to that decision ( 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 7:12). However now that Paul had learned that the Corinthian congregation was responding more positively to him again he could reintroduce the subject and press for its completion. [2]