Epistles of Paul 61

Chapters 8 and 9 are not necessarily very difficult chapters of 2 Corinthians. However, they do bring us some very important principles, key principles. One of the interesting principles from a minister's point of view is how to deal with a congregation on different people type situations. In the eye is a case, so there's a number of situations in the eye, and specifically dealing with giving. Paul is using some approaches that are very careful to do that. That is a way that he's very concerned in what he's doing in a way that is not going to offend anybody. But the really highlight of these two chapters 8 and 9 is key Christian principles about giving. Paul, in the first 15 verses of 2 Corinthians chapter 8, used three different ways to encourage the Corinthian brethren to take up a collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem. In verses 1 through 7 of 2 Corinthians chapter 8, he used the example of the Macedonians. And then in verses 8 and 9, he uses Christ's very own example.

And in verses 10 through 15, he focused on the benefit to them, in other words, for their own benefit, for their own interest. The interesting thing that we covered in the last Bible study is that through these ways to encourage the Corinthian brethren to give, he highlights three principles of Christian giving or Christian liberality or Christian giving. One is that we need to be ready to have a readiness to give, a willing mind to give freely. Then we need to give as we have. And in 2 Corinthians 8 verse 12, let's emphasize there according to what one has.

And then thirdly, it's a point of reciprocity. And it was not for the Jews to give, I beg your pardon, the Corinthians to give to the Jews so that the Corinthians would be burdened, but it was a principle of equality. And you know, you gather, you gather much, you'll be able to receive much, you gather less, you receive less. And so, but also as you give, there is a reciprocity that you blessed for it. And so that's where we stopped last time.

And we are today going to continue from verse 16. And from verse 16 through the end of this chapter, Paul mentions that he's sending Titus and at least two other men to gather their collection and to help them to take it to Judea. One of the reasons is that in all this collection, Paul would be above any suspicion or no accusation that Paul is doing this for himself. It appears from the reading that some had accused Paul that he was doing this for his own personal benefit.

So let's start reading in verse 16. In verse 16 says, But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. So Titus, who Paul was sending for to do this job and represent him, had the same care and love for the church as Paul had.

And then he continues in verse 17, and he says, For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. So Titus didn't have to be forced to do this. He accepted it, the request for the responsibility, and then he took a lead.

And so it was something that he felt he should do anyway. He was very diligent on that.

And verse 18, And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches. So he doesn't say who this brother was, but he said, We sent the brother whose praise is in the gospel through all the churches. So it was a brother that was well known and respected amongst the congregations. And verse 19, he says, And not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift. And so he was appointed by the church to travel with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and to show your ready mind. And so this gift, this collection to be able to give to the church in Judea, you think about it. With all these people to be involved in carrying this gift to Judea, it must have been quite something. Maybe a caravan with a lot of stuff that was being given to the church in Judea. And it says it's administrative by us. So it was administered by Paul and his fellow co-workers. Then let's look at verse 20, avoiding this, that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us.

And so yeah, in verse 20 is Paul is saying, I'm doing it this way so that nobody's gonna blame Paul or blame us or point fingers in this quite generous gift which is being administered. It was quite some gift. Verse 21, providing honorable things not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of man. So providing honorable things. So these people in verse 21 that are going along with the gift, they would be honorable, they would act themselves correctly, and they would be very well respected by all the brethren. That is and so we have at this stage, it's been mentioned that was Titus, plus at this moment it's explained there was one brother as we say, said appointed by the church in verse 19. But now in verse 22 it says, and we have sent with them our brother. So there's a second brother, besides the one that was appointed by the church, there is a second brother, plus Titus, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent because of the great confidence which we have in you. So here is a second brother that is being sent. Again, it does not mention about nine.

It could maybe be the one that is mentioned in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 18.

Let's look at verse 18. It says, our urge titers and sent our brother within. So it could be this same brother that he's referring to, yeah.

Right, let's go on with verse 23. If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. So Titus was representing Paul and then it goes on here. Or if our brethren are inquiring about it, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. And so, and the others, not just Titus, and the others, the other brethren that are going, we're going with Titus and with them, they represented the churches. They are messengers of the churches as an encouragement to those that handled finances. So to the glory of Christ, everything is going to be done decently and in honor. Right, let's move on to verse 24.

Therefore, show to them and before the churches the proof of your love and of our postings on your behalf. So Paul is saying, I've been boasting about you, that you will be ready with an offering. And so now he is saying, therefore show to them and before the churches the proof of our love and of our boasting. You know, therefore show to them that there is a reason that I have been boasting about you, that you are going to give an offering. And so it's basically in a sense encouraging them. And this is a very, very constructive way to encourage the brethren to do their part and to be as liberal as possible. And so, and this all ties with 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 1 to 3, because in chapter 16 verse 1 to 3, in his first epistle, he was saying, I'm concerning the collection for the saints, as I've given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also on the first day of the week, let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there may be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters, I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. So all this ties with 1 Corinthians 16. He had spoken to them about it. He was encouraged, or he was of the belief, that they were putting something together big. He was boasting about them, as we can see in 2 Corinthians verse 24. And he's saying, therefore, show to these people who are going to go, their titans and these two brethren, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf, your love that you are giving liberally and our boasting about you going to be doing this. Now he continues now in verse 1, now concerning the ministry to the saints. Now note that it says the ministering to the saints. This is clearly not talking about tithes and offerings, but a service to the saints. And then it says, it is superfluous for me to write to you. It was, I don't have to write to you, but I'm writing anyway. And then he goes on verse 2, for I know your willingness about which I boast of you to the Macedonians. In other words, I'm praising you, Yah, in Macedonia. That's what he was when he wrote this letter. It was in northern part of Greece. So the thing about Macedonia is the northern part of Greece, and Achaia is the region in the south, let's call it the province, or the region, Achaia, where Corinth is.

So he says, I know your willingness about which I boast of you to the Macedonians. That Achaia, in your region where Corinth is, was ready a year ago. I'm boasting to them that you, Corinthians, have been ready for all year. And your zeal has stirred up the majority.

And so they, because he praised you, the Corinthians, to the Macedonians, that you were being so generous, they, in Macedonia, also were stirred up to be generous. So in a sense, he's asking, how about you? How will you do? Don't now embarrass me. And so, therefore, then he continues, verse three, yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready.

That's why he says Paul is sending Titus and two other brothers. He said, yet I've sent you the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect. So he doesn't want them to get there, and there's nothing, particularly when when, I'll be a part of when, when the time comes to send a gift.

Verse four, lest if some Macedonians come with me, so that when Paul comes later, and if some Macedonians go with Paul, and there's nothing, that's why he's sending Titus and two others up front to get everything ready, so that when Paul comes later with some Macedonians, if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, should be ashamed of this confident boasting.

In other words, if you are unprepared, if you're not ready, if you have not got together this gift to be sent to Judea, then we would be, we would be embarrassed in words, they would think that Paul is a liar, and they themselves, not to mention you, in other words, they, the Corinthians, would be ashamed.

So, above would be ashamed. Verse five, therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time. In other words, therefore, he, he, he, he, he thought that it was necessary to encourage these two brethren and Titus to go ahead, ahead of time, to prepare your generous gift beforehand. And so, yeah, we, we have a gift which Paul is saying, hey, it's a generous gift beforehand, so in a sense it's like giving them a positive, encouraging, encouraging word, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready, so that the gift may be ready when I get there with, maybe if I come with some Macedonians, when I get there, it may be ready, as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation, as a matter of generosity.

Now, I want to look at this word generosity. This word generosity is a Greek word 2129 eulogia, which is a word related to eulogy, which is fine speaking, elegance of language, it's act of commendation, so it's a eulogy, it's all benediction. But by extension, this word, by extension, also applies benefit or largeness or blessing, and so in other words, it says as a matter of your bounty, of your bounty or your gift, so that they will say, wow, this is a generous church, so it is of bounty an act of great gift, generosity of eulogy, of bounty, of great gift, and not as a grudging obligation.

Literally, the word grudging is in my margin, in my Bible, says covetousness, and this word grudging is a Greek word 4124, play or noxia, or something like that. Please forgive my Greek. Not very good. Everything that I say maybe sounds like Greek, you know, sorry. But anyway, grudging is more an avarice or fraudulency or covetousness or greediness, so a grusping to get more to keep it at the expense of others, so that it may be ready as a matter of your bounty, your gift being very generous, being a great bounty, largeness, not a case that you are holding it back at the expense of others because you are greedy and you want to keep things for yourself.

All right, let's move on to verse six. But as I say, he who sells sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sells bountifully will also reap bountifully. Now, remember, in verse six, it's actually in this section. It's talking about gift, talking about, let's call, a free will offering. It's not talking about tithing.

Really, it's not talking about tithing. And yes, it's talking about money, but it's beyond that. It's also talking a principle which is about a way of life, which is the more you give, give, the more you'll be blessed. He who sells sparingly will also reap sparingly, but he who sells bountifully will also reap bountifully. Now, look at Ecclesiastes chapter 11 verse 1. Ecclesiastes chapter 11 verse 1. Let's look at Ecclesiastes chapter 11 verse 1. Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. In other words, give upon many waters is in many areas. It's like investing in giving, and eventually you will get a return. That's you cast your bread upon the waters, give, and eventually he says after many days you will be a return. You can't outgive God. You and I cannot outgive God. So let's go back to 2 Corinthians. We've finished reading verse 6. Let's now read verse 7.

So, let each one give has the purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. Let's first look at the word purposes.

So, let each one give has the purposes in his heart. This word Greek, this Greek word here, translated as purposes, is only used once in the New Testament. It's the Greek word 4255, pro-harao, and indicates a premeditated, predetermined plan of action, which is done from the heart voluntarily, not impulsively. It's an act that you thought about it, that you want to do it, and you give. So it's a premeditated, predetermined plan of action. It says, let each one give as the purposes in his heart. In a similar vein, let's look at Exodus chapter 25. Exodus chapter 25 verse 2. Exodus chapter 25 verse 2.

Now we are seeing a situation where we see the Lord spoke to Moses in verse 1, and in verse 2, speak to the children of Israel that they may bring me an offering from everyone who gives it willingly with his heart, you shall take my offering. So again, he is talking about an offering, not a tithe, an offering willingly with his heart. You see, God does not change.

Yahweh we're willingly giving to build the tabernacle. We likewise today are in the process of building a spiritual temple, God's church, and God wants you and I to give willingly for the construction of the spiritual temple. That is, for the caring of the church and the preaching of the gospel. Why? To bring more people into the temple, into the church. And so, Yahweh have, in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 7, he's telling us, let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly. Now grudgingly, Yah, is a completely different word than grudgingly earlier on. Grudgingly, in verse 5, grudgingly, grudgingly, in verse 5, was the word Greek 4124, pleor noxia, which meant coverlessness, greediness. But Yah, in verse 7, not grudgingly, is the Greek word 3077, lupai, a complete different word. It literally means with grief, sorrow, or sadness, with heaviness, like one that is mourning. It's more like an attitude of being reluctant, doing something because it is a duty or an obligation. In other words, it's not out of joy, but I've done in my duty. And so, when we give an offering to do work, an extra offering, we should be happy. We should be joyous, not mournful. And that's what it says. He purpose in his heart to give, not grudgingly. In other words, not, oh well, I have to do it. I don't really want to do it, but I have to. Or of necessity. In other words, compulsion. You know, it was not grudgingly, or of necessity, or of compulsion. No, but you need to be a cheerful giver. For God loves a cheerful giver. The word for cheerfully is the Greek word 2431, e-laras. From where do we get the word e-laras? Mary. Happy. Joyous. God wants us to give out of a heart that is thrilled with the pleasure of giving, not one that is sorrowful and despair because he has to give.

And so, verse 7, reading verse 7 again, so let each one give as he purposes, as he determines in his art. Not sadly, not mourning about it, or, oh, I have to do it, but rather God loves a cheerful giver, one that he gives because he's happy and merry, merry and really joyous that he wants to give. Now, the last section here from the last two sections, the first one is from 8 to 11, and then there'll be another section from 12 to 15. So this second last section from verse 8 to 11, Paul here says, God will take care of your needs if you give in the right manner.

And of course, we have to use wisdom. I think of a situation that actually happened to somebody in the church that he gave of what he didn't have, and then he had to ask for a system because he didn't have, but he said, but you know, I was told to give, and we ought to give of what we have, but we give it freely of what we have, according to what we have. Remember, we mentioned those three principles of Christian giving, of Christian liberality. One is willing, a willing mind, give freely in a words of readiness. The second one is according as we have, and third was a reciprocity. You see, as you give, there is a reciprocity that God will reward you. You cannot not give God. So, and likewise, as you give, it'll come back to you. There's a reciprocity, and there's a joy for it giving. Blessed is more is more blessed is he to give than receive.

All right, so let's read verse eight.

And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, and that you always having all sufficiency in all things. You see, so if you give and you do it right, that means in the right attitude, God is able to bless you, and you will have, or make sure, that you have what you need. And continue that, having all sufficiency in all things may have an abundance for every good work. So you'll have what you need. God will ensure that if you are giving according to these three basic principles of Christian liberality or Christian giving. Verse nine, as it is written, he has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever. So yeah, we have, as one disperses abroad, was one gives, as one gives to the poor.

You see, so God sees that we're willing to help the poor, particularly as talking about the saints, and when he sees, and we spread the seed abroad, it will come back. You will be blessed.

And then he says, his righteousness endures forever. Our doing what is right becomes our character, and it will remain forever. It becomes the way we are, becomes who we are, and that is righteousness, because God sees that as righteousness, because God is a giver as well.

God loves and gives, and so we are behaving in a way that is righteousness, and that will, that characteristic will last forever. Now, obviously, it can also apply that God is, he disperses abroad, and he God gives to the poor, and God's righteous endures forever. But that's what we are to become. We have become sons of God, like God is. So we are to, in other words, emulate or be a reflection of God's character. Verse 10, now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, in other words, God does that, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. You see, that he's basically saying, God that provides all just because you are giving, may God increase you, the fruits of your righteous, may increase you. In other words, you cannot give God. God will multiply and will give it back to you. And this is, in a sense, a prayer that that would happen, but we know that's God's will, and that will happen.

Verse 11, while you are enriched in everything for all the liberality, which for all the morality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. In verse 11 it says, this will lead you to thanksgiving from the receivers, because what it says here is in verse 11, while you are enriched in everything for all the morality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. So it will lead for the receivers to be grateful. So why does God give riches?

God gives us riches for us to give for others good, and therefore, ultimately, for everyone to glorify God. That's why. It says thanksgiving through us to God. An act of thanksgiving is a great sacrifice, pleasing, well pleasing to God. You know, it's interesting. Somebody told me when we're talking about Satan, and that Satan wanted more and wanted to be like God, and we know he was proud, and he wanted to be like God. You read that in Isaiah. He says, I'll raise up, I'll be like God. That individual told me, you know, it's possible that one of the problems of Satan was that he was not grateful. He was not thankful for what he had, and it is interesting. It is something to think about, that he was not grateful and thankful. So that could also be, I think, one of the problems. If we're not grateful, if we're not thankful, we kind of want more and want more, but we should be grateful for what we have, and then we give, and then God blesses us and rewards us. Now let's read verse 12.

Now from verse 12 through verse 15, he now concludes this section, and he says, verse 12, for the administration of this service, of this service of this generosity of giving, of collecting these gifts and giving, sending them to the brethren in Judea for the administration of this service, not only supplies the needs of the saints, but is also abounding through many thanksgiving to God. And so this administration, this act of thanksgiving, it caused Paul to be grateful, and the receivers will also be very grateful. And therefore, not only those that Paul sent will thank them for their generosity, but it also will supply the brethren's needs, and also many that have asked for God's intervention and help. This was the answer for them, those in Judea, and therefore will cause a lot of thanksgiving. So that's why it says administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints in Judea, but is also abounding through many thanksgiving to God. And so many will give God thanks for this. Verse 13, while through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ and for your liberal sharing with them and all men. So they glorify God for their outward show of subjection to God by giving, the being submissive to God, and therefore they are being like God is giving. And so they show in their conversion, they show in their willingness to help. And indeed, think about it, we confess, and I confess, we confess to be true Christians when we believe and practice giving and helping.

And so this liberal sharing, it's a blessing. Those who collect it, as well as those who receive it, will be thankful when they see your liberality. That's what it says. While through the proof of this ministry, be apart of continue, they will glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ. In other words, it shows their subjection to the gospel of Christ, shows their conversion, right, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men. So it will cause a lot of thanksgiving. Verse 14, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. In other words, they'll see God's gift in you and they will be praying for you, who long for you because of this exceeding grace. It's a grace of this gift, an exceeding grace, a super abounding grace of God in you. And verse 15, thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. In other words, God's indescribable gift.

But it's also this gift that you are giving is also an indescribable gift. And so he has a duality.

And so, in concluding, as we maybe meditate a little bit about this, we see that Jesus Christ, what Christ has done for us, his act of giving his life for us, and particularly as we approach the Passover, is such an indescribable gift to us. On the other side, our conversion from the old man to a new man, which the Bible refers as a new creation through what God is doing through Jesus Christ's death and through Jesus Christ's life, as our high priest and intervening for us and forgiving us, and with the help of God's power, of his Holy Spirit, that helps us to become more like him, is also an indescribable gift to us.

And so, our conversion, as it becomes what is the word applied, how we apply, how we readily give, how we show our conversion by giving to needy brethren, as we use or act in the simple act of reciprocity, which God has given us a great gift, we are giving others a great gift. It reflects the character of kindness and mercy from God.

It is, in a sense, a thanksgiving offering to God. And so, that says thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. God has given us a great gift, Christ, his death, his life, God's power. And what do we do? We, in return, in reciprocity, we give that gift to others through the act of giving. And so, it becomes like a thanksgiving offering to God. And so, as I'm concluding this, brethren, it's good to read chapters eight and nine when we think about a holy day offering. Next week, we're going to move on to the next chapter, but as you will see, there is an abrupt change in town or in approach, because up to here, from chapters one to chapter nine, Paul seemed to be addressing the repentant majority of the brethren in Corinth, but from chapters 10 to 13, Paul is now addressing the minority of those in Corinth that are still being influenced by false teachers.