2|Cor. 8:11a| grace| 2|Cor. 1:12;| 9:14;| 13:14
| See note 101 in 1|Cor. 15. By this grace, which is the resurrection life of Christ, the Macedonian believers overcame the usurpation of temporal and uncertain riches (see note 11 in 1|Cor. 16) and became generous in ministering to the needy saints.
2|Cor. 8:1b| Macedonia| Acts 16:9;| 2|Cor. 1:16;| 2:13
2|Cor. 8:21| proving
| See 2:9 and note 2 there, and note 131 in ch. 9.
2|Cor. 8:2a| poverty| cf. Mark 12:43-44
2|Cor. 8:22b| liberality| 2|Cor. 9:13
| The same Greek word is used for singleness and simplicity. See 1:12 and Rom. 12:8.
2|Cor. 8:3a| of| 2|Cor. 8:17
2|Cor. 8:41| grace
| The Macedonian believers besought of the apostles the grace that they might participate (have fellowship) in the ministry to the needy saints. They were not asked to have a share in this matter; rather, they begged for it. They considered it a grace that the apostles would allow them such a share.
2|Cor. 8:4a| ministry| 2|Cor. 9:1;| Rom. 15:25-26
2|Cor. 8:5a| gave| cf. Rom. 12:1
2|Cor. 8:51| first
| The Lord wants the believers themselves much more than He wants what they have.
2|Cor. 8:52| and
| They gave themselves not only to the Lord but also to the apostles to be one with the apostles in the accomplishing of their ministry.
2|Cor. 8:53| through
| It was through the will of God, through the sovereign divine agent, that the believers gave themselves first to the Lord, and to the apostles.
2|Cor. 8:6a| Titus| 2|Cor. 8:16, 23;| 12:18
2|Cor. 8:61b| grace| 2|Cor. 8:7, 19;| 1|Cor. 16:3 and note
| The act of giving.
2|Cor. 8:62| as
| This indicates that besides this grace, the grace of giving, Titus completed other things among the Corinthian believers.
2|Cor. 8:7a| abound| 2|Cor. 9:8
2|Cor. 8:71| word
| Or, utterance.
2|Cor. 8:7b| knowledge| 1|Cor. 1:5
2|Cor. 8:72c| earnestness| 2|Cor. 7:11
| See note 111 in ch. 7.
2|Cor. 8:73| the
| Some MSS read, the love from you in us.
2|Cor. 8:74| from
| The love that was in the believers was infused into them from the apostles.
2|Cor. 8:75| grace
| The act of love shown in the giving of material things to the needy saints. The believers’ grace was the issue of God’s grace, which was motivating them. In the fellowship concerning the ministry to the saints, the apostle referred to the grace of four parties: (1) the grace of God, which was given to the Macedonian believers to motivate them and enable them to give with liberality (vv. 1-2); (2) the grace of the apostles, which allowed the believers to participate in the ministry to the needy saints (v. 4); (3) the grace of the believers, which was their ministering of material things to the needy ones (vv. 6-7); and (4) the grace of Christ, that He became poor that we might become rich (v. 9). This indicates that the believers’ offering of material possessions to the Lord for any purpose should be absolutely a matter of grace, not of human maneuvering.
2|Cor. 8:8a| not| 1|Cor. 7:6
2|Cor. 8:91a| grace| 2|Cor. 12:9;| 13:14
| It is grace to us that the Lord Jesus, being rich, became poor for our sakes. In the same principle, it is grace to others that we would sacrifice our material riches for their sakes.
2|Cor. 8:9b| rich| 2|Cor. 6:10
2|Cor. 8:101a| opinion| 1|Cor. 7:25, 40
| The apostle’s opinion expressed the Lord’s will and desire. See note 251 in 1|Cor. 7.
2|Cor. 8:11a| eagerness| 2|Cor. 8:19;| 9:2
2|Cor. 8:11b| have| Mark 12:44
2|Cor. 8:14a| lack| 2|Cor. 9:12;| Acts 4:34-35
2|Cor. 8:151a| He| Exo. 16:18
| This quotation from Exo. 16 refers to God’s heavenly way of balancing the supply of manna among His people, and is applied here to the ministering of material things to the needy saints. Manna was gathered for the daily supply of God’s people; they had a sufficient supply no matter how much or how little they gathered. Gathering manna was their duty, and they were to do their duty without being greedy. In like manner, as children of God we should not be greedy or try to preserve our money for ourselves, for whether or not we give, the outcome will be the same, for God in His sovereignty is active to practice a heavenly balancing of the wealth among His people. The result is that He takes care of our daily needs, so that he who preserves much for himself has no excess and he who preserves little for himself has no lack.
2|Cor. 8:16a| thanks| 2|Cor. 2:14
2|Cor. 8:161b| earnestness| 2|Cor. 7:11
| Or, diligence. Referring to Paul’s diligence, earnestness, toward the believers.
2|Cor. 8:16c| Titus| 2|Cor. 8:6;| 7:6
2|Cor. 8:171a| entreaty| 2|Cor. 8:6
| The entreaty of the apostle.
2|Cor. 8:17b| of| 2|Cor. 8:3
2|Cor. 8:18a| brother| 2|Cor. 12:18
2|Cor. 8:18b| all| 1|Cor. 7:17
2|Cor. 8:191a| grace| 2|Cor. 8:6, 7
| See notes 62 and 75.
2|Cor. 8:19b| glory| 2|Cor. 4:15
2|Cor. 8:19c| eagerness| 2|Cor. 8:11
2|Cor. 8:201| Avoiding
| Money, which is used very much by the devil to seduce man into dishonesty, is involved in the ministry of material things to the saints. In order to avoid being blamed through man’s suspiciousness in this matter, the apostles sent with Titus a reputable brother as a witness.
2|Cor. 8:202| abundance
| The abundance of material gifts.
2|Cor. 8:211| exercise
| Or, take forethought for, consider in advance (as in Rom. 12:17). This must be quoted from Prov. 3:4, where the Septuagint reads, “And exercise foresight for what is honorable in the sight of the Lord, and of men.”
2|Cor. 8:221| our
| Another faithful brother was sent with the two, that by the mouth of three witnesses a strong testimony might be established (Matt. 18:16). This displayed the apostle Paul’s carefulness in doing things.
2|Cor. 8:222| diligent
| Or, earnest.
2|Cor. 8:22a| confidence| 2|Cor. 2:3
2|Cor. 8:23a| Titus| 2|Cor. 8:6, 16
2|Cor. 8:23b| partner| Philem. 17
2|Cor. 8:23c| fellow| Phil. 2:25
2|Cor. 8:231| apostles
| Sent ones, those sent by the churches.
2|Cor. 8:24a| boasting| 2|Cor. 7:4, 14;| 9:2-3