2Cor 8:1 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER VIII. The apostle stirs them up to make a collection for the poor Christians at Jerusalem, by the very liberal contributions of the people of Macedonia for the same purpose, who were comparatively a poor people , 1-5. He tells them that he had desired Titus to finish this good work among them which he had begun; hoping that as they abounded in many excellent gifts and graces, they would abound in this also , 6-8. He exhorts them to this by the example of Jesus Christ, who, though rich, subjected himself to voluntary poverty, that they might be enriched , 9. He shows them that this contribution, which had been long ago begun, should have been long since finished , 10. And that they should do every thing with a ready and willing mind, according to the ability which God had given them; that abundance should not prevail on one hand, while pinching poverty ruled on the other; but that there should be an equality , 11-14. He shows from the distribution of the manna in the wilderness, that the design of God was, that every member of his spiritual household should have the necessaries of life , 15. He tells them that he had now sent Titus, and another with him, to Corinth, to complete this great work , 16-22. The character which he gives of Titus and the others employed in this business , 23, 24. NOTES ON CHAP. VIII. Verse 1. Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit ] In all our dignified version very few ill-constructed sentences can be found; however here is one, and the worst in the book. We do you to wit is in the original γνωριζομενδευμιν, we make known unto you . This is plain and intelligible, the other is not so; and the form is now obsolete. The grace of God bestowed ] Dr. Whitby has made it fully evident that the χαριςθεου signifies the charitable contribution made by the Churches in Macedonia, to which they were excited by the grace or influence of God upon their hearts; and that δεδομενηνεν cannot signify bestowed on , but given in . That χαρις means liberality , appears from : We desired Titus that as he had begun, so he would finish την ξαρινταυτην, this charitable contribution . And : That ye abound ενταυτητηχαριτι, in this liberal contribution . And : Who was chosen of the Church to travel with us συν τηχαριτιταυτη, with this charitable contribution, which is administered -which is to be dispensed, by us . So : God is able to make πασανχαριν, all liberality, to abound towards you . And : To bring τηνχαριν, your liberality , to the poor saints. Hence χαρις, is by Hesychius and Phavorinus interpreted a gift , as it is here by the apostle: Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift , . This charity is styled the grace of God , either from its exceeding greatness , (as the cedars of God and mountains of God signify great cedars and great mountains , ;) or rather, it is called so as proceeding from God, who is the dispenser of all good, and the giver of this disposition; for the motive of charity must come from him. So, in other places, the zeal of God , ; the love of God , ; the grace of God , . The Churches of Macedonia ] These were Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea , &c.

‏ 2 Corinthians 8:1

CHAPTER VIII.

The apostle stirs them up to make a collection for the poor Christians at Jerusalem, by the very liberal contributions of the people of Macedonia for the same purpose, who were comparatively a poor people, 1-5.

He tells them that he had desired Titus to finish this good work among them which he had begun; hoping that as they abounded in many excellent gifts and graces, they would abound in this also, 6-8.

He exhorts them to this by the example of Jesus Christ, who, though rich, subjected himself to voluntary poverty, that they might be enriched, 9.

He shows them that this contribution, which had been long ago begun, should have been long since finished, 10.

And that they should do every thing with a ready and willing mind, according to the ability which God had given them; that abundance should not prevail on one hand, while pinching poverty ruled on the other; but that there should be an equality, 11-14.

He shows from the distribution of the manna in the wilderness, that the design of God was, that every member of his spiritual household should have the necessaries of life, 15.

He tells them that he had now sent Titus, and another with him, to Corinth, to complete this great work, 16-22.

The character which he gives of Titus and the others employed in this business, 23, 24.

NOTES ON CHAP. VIII.

Verse 1. Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit] In all our dignified version very few ill-constructed sentences can be found; however here is one, and the worst in the book. We do you to wit is in the original γνωριζομενδευμιν, we make known unto you. This is plain and intelligible, the other is not so; and the form is now obsolete.

The grace of God bestowed] Dr. Whitby has made it fully evident that the χαριςθεου signifies the charitable contribution made by the Churches in Macedonia, to which they were excited by the grace or influence of God upon their hearts; and that δεδομενηνεν cannot signify bestowed on, but given in. That χαρις means liberality, appears from 2Co 8:6: We desired Titus that as he had begun, so he would finish την ξαρινταυτην, this charitable contribution. And 2Co 8:7: That ye abound ενταυτητηχαριτι, in this liberal contribution. And 2Co 8:19: Who was chosen of the Church to travel with us συν τηχαριτιταυτη, with this charitable contribution, which is administered-which is to be dispensed, by us. So 2Co 9:8: God is able to make πασανχαριν, all liberality, to abound towards you. And 1Co 16:3: To bring τηνχαριν, your liberality, to the poor saints. Hence χαρις, is by Hesychius and Phavorinus interpreted a gift, as it is here by the apostle: Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift, 2Co 9:15. This charity is styled the grace of God, either from its exceeding greatness, (as the cedars of God and mountains of God signify great cedars and great mountains, Ps 36:6; 80:10;) or rather, it is called so as proceeding from God, who is the dispenser of all good, and the giver of this disposition; for the motive of charity must come from him. So, in other places, the zeal of God, Ro 10:2; the love of God, 2Co 5:14; the grace of God, Tit 2:11.

The Churches of Macedonia] These were Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, &c.