2 Corinthians 8
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · AD 55 – AD 56 · The early church · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
24 verses · 544 words · ~3 min read · ~4 min listen
Generosity Commended
1Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia. 2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord, 4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God.
6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it. 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love through the earnestness of others.
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire. 11Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means. 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
13It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. 14At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality. 15As it is written:
Titus Commended
16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you. 17For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.
18Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel. 19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
20We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift. 21For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
22And we are sending along with them our brother who has proven his earnestness to us many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.
Footnotes (4)
- a v7 Or in your love for us
- b v15 Exodus 16:18
- c v19 See 1 Corinthians 16:3–4.
- d v23 Or apostles
Study notes on this chapter · 1
Manna and the bread of life
God fed Israel with manna, bread from heaven, for forty years. When the crowds mention it to Jesus he says it was the Father, not Moses, who gave the bread from heaven, and that he himself is the true bread from heaven, which gives life to the world. Paul also cites the gathering of manna as a pattern of fair sharing.
When: Wilderness (c. 1446 or c. 1250 BC); Jesus in Capernaum, c. AD 29; 2 Corinthians, c. AD 55–56.
Ways people read this (2)
- The bread discourse points both to Jesus' incarnation and to his death (John 6:51).
- Traditions differ on whether the discourse refers to the Lord's Supper (Catholic, Orthodox and many Lutheran readings) or to faith in Christ generally.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.