Study 2 Corinthians 8

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1. What did Paul wish to make known to the saints in Corinth?

How the grace of God had been shown in the assemblies of Macedonia to the north of them, of which Philippi was the leading church.

2. What was true of the churches in Macedonia?

They were experiencing tribulation and they were poor

3.How did the saints in Macedonia demonstrate the grace of God?

In spite of their afflictions and their poverty they possessed joy in Christ, and from their poverty they gave liberally of their material goods.

We see, therefore, that the current definition of grace as "God's riches at Christ's expense" is so woefully incomplete as to be grossly misleading. In the following passages we find some of the principles of giving in the Kingdom of God. They still apply today. Let us keep in mind, however, that Paul was speaking of their sharing their material goods with the poor saints in Jerusalem.

It appears that the Jewish saints were having economic problems. He was not speaking of giving for the support of physical structures or "Gospel programs." No doubt the same principles of giving apply today to the building of physical structures, the support of the ministry, and the publication of literature. We Christians are not to grasp the riches of the world but are to share our material blessings as God directs. God is generous with the generous.

It is our point of view, however, that the pleas for money that abound on every hand in the Lord's churches, have nothing to do with Christ or with the Kingdom of God. The pleas are little more than the devices of people who are building their own kingdoms. Such pleaders for money promise the believers that if they will give to the program under consideration, God will send back to them more than they gave.

They appeal to the love of gain rather than the love of God. God is not in it. The endless money raising is bringing reproach on the Gospel of Christ. What God orders he pays for. When God ceases supporting a program we need to go to God for the reason. Perhaps our efforts should be abandoned.

We think these passages concerning giving would lose much of their power if Paul were referring to the constructing of a building or to the needs of himself and his traveling companions. But the feeding of the hungry, the clothing of the naked, and Christian love demonstrated in sharing are blessed of God.

4. To what extent did the believers in Macedonia give of their material blessings for the poor saints in Jerusalem?

They gave according to their ability and, in fact, beyond their ability without anyone requiring such liberality of them.

5. For what opportunity did the Macedonians beg Paul?

The opportunity to participate in the support of the poorer believers.

6. In what way had the believers in Macedonia gone beyond Paul's expectations?

In addition to giving of their means they first received all that the Lord Jesus had to say and to give to them spiritually through the Apostle Paul, in accordance with God's will. No doubt their healthy spiritual condition gave rise to their liberality and unselfishness in helping their fellow believers in Jerusalem. When God is moving among His saints they will give liberally. And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make (Exodus 36:5)

7.What did Paul exhort Titus to do?

To complete the arrangements he had begun with the believers in Corinth concerning the offering for the destitute saints in Jerusalem.

8.In what things were the Corinthians abounding?

In faith, in the ability to speak the Word of God, in the knowledge of Christ, in earnest diligence in the Kingdom of God, and in their love for Paul.

9.In what additional way did Paul desire they abound?

In sharing their material goods with the poorer saints, according to the example set by the churches in Macedonia.

10. In what manner did Paul speak to them concerning sharing with their brothers and sisters in the Lord?

He was not commanding them to give; rather, he was using the example of the liberality of Macedonian saints, who themselves were poor, as a standard by which the Corinthians could test the genuineness of their own love.

11.In what way was the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ revealed?

Though He was rich He became poor for our sakes so that through His poverty we may become rich. The most extravagant dream of the most imaginative individual could not in a million years comprehend the smallest part of the fantastic wealth and resources possessed by our Lord Jesus. Yet he walked on the earth as a poor man, having been born in a stable. Most of us would not have been able to know Him or participate with Him if He had appeared in the fullness of His heavenly glory. By becoming poor he was able to reach every human being. Every human being who will receive this poor Man becomes the heir of all things in Heaven and on the earth.

12.What is Paul's opinion?

That it is to the advantage of the Corinthians to finish what they had started. They had begun a year previously to gather support for the poorer saints and they had desired to make such a collection at that time. Since they had been so willing to help, they now should bring their efforts to completion according to their means.

13.How does God view the believer who is willing to share his material means?

The giving of the believer is accepted according to his possessions, not according to what he does not have.

14.What does the Apostle not intend?

That other saints should have an abundance and the Corinthians should suffer.

15. What is the desired condition?

That the abundance of the Corinthians be shared with other churches, and that the other churches share when they have abundance, so that there will be an equality of material blessings among the saints.

16.What does the manna given in the wilderness teach us?

That the saint must not heap to himself provisions, because God will make certain we have enough but not too much. Those who gathered a little manna found they had enough. Those who gathered more than they needed found that the surplus would not keep until the next day. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating (Exodus 16:18).

17.What had God put in the heart of Titus?

The same concern Paul had for the believers in Corinth.

18.What did Titus do?

He went to the church in Corinth of his own accord in order to assist the believers in the Gospel, and also to organize and bring to completion the gathering of their support for the poor saints in Jerusalem.

19.Whom did Paul send with Titus?

A Christian brother (perhaps Luke) whose work in the Gospel had become known among all the churches.

20.What special responsibility rested on the Christian brother whom Paul sent with Titus?

The Christian churches had appointed him to travel with Paul in order to help with the organizing of the collections for the poor saints of Jerusalem. The gathering of material goods for the poor saints was for the glory of the Lord. It was one of Paul's concerns.

21.What was the purpose of having the unnamed brother in charge of the collection?

So everyone would know how the money was being handled and no suspicion would arise that it was going to Paul. It appears that the collections for the poor amounted to a considerable sum of material wealth. Paul was making sure therewas an accounting of all funds. There was no secrecy. The churches could be certain that what they had given went to the poor. The Christian ministry must be without reproach regarding money and material wealth. This has not always been the case. Much money changes hands during the work of the Kingdom of God. It is a part of godly living, of the Christian testimony, to insure that there is a visible accounting of every penny such that any person who is involved can be certain the money he is giving is not going into the personal account of a "minister of the Gospel." The love of money, which is sin, was never associated with Christ or His Apostles-except Judas Iscariot. Christ lived as a poor man, owning neither house nor ox. We who are His servants must flee from any behavior that would raise questions in the minds of people concerning our attitude toward money or our handling of money. "The love of money is the root of all evil."

22.What was Paul careful to do?

He was careful to behave in an honorable manner, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of people

23.Whom else did Paul send in addition to Titus and the unnamed brother who was appointed to supervise the collection for the poor saints?

A Christian man whom Paul had found to be diligent in the work of the Kingdom and who had confidence in the church in Corinth.

24.How did Paul desire that the church in Corinth regard Titus?

As Paul's partner and fellow worker.

25.How did Paul desire that the church in Corinth regard the two Christian men who accompanied Titus to Corinth?

As apostles of the churches and the glory of Christ. We can see no reason why the Greek word here (ah-PAW-staw-loy-verse 23) should be translated"messengers," or "representatives," and not be translated apostles, as it is in Mark 6:30, for example. They were the apostles of the churches-men sent forth to perform the work of Christ. We understand there were twelve Apostles of the Lamb, whose names are in the foundation of the wall of the new Jerusalem But that there are other persons who were apostles is established by the reference to Barnabas as an apostle (Acts 14:14).(Revelation 21:14).

26. What did Paul ask the Corinthians saints to do?

To demonstrate to the three visiting brothers their Christian love and the reason for Paul's boasting about the church in Corinth so that all the Christian churches could witness the love of the saints in Corinth. Next Page