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2 Corinthians Chapter Eight

 
Chapter Eight General Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
 
1) To see how Paul motivated others in their giving
 
2) To ascertain what principles ought to govern our giving
 
3) To appreciate the honorable manner in which Paul handled the
 collection for needy saints
 
SUMMARY
 
At this point Paul addresses an issue that occupied much of his 
interest during his missionary journeys: the collection for the needy
Christians in Judea (cf. Ga 2:9-10; Ro 15:25-28; 1 Co 16:1-2). In this
letter, two entire chapters are devoted to the subject.
 
He begins by mentioning the churches in Macedonia. Despite a great 
trial of affliction and their own deep poverty, their abundance of joy
and eagerness to participate in this ministry resulted in great 
liberality (1-5).
 
Having sent Titus to assist the Corinthians in carrying through with 
their own desire to give, Paul exhorts them not only by the example of
the Macedonians but by the example of Jesus Christ (6-9). Since it is 
to their advantage that they complete what they began a year earlier,
Paul reminds them of the principles that ought to govern their giving.
These principles involve willingness, ability, and equality (10-15).
 
In an effort to do everything honorable in the sight of others, the 
collection is to be handled by three men other than Paul. Titus is 
one, but the other two men are unnamed. However, they are well known
and proven in their service to the Lord. Paul encourages the
Corinthians to demonstrate to these men and to all the churches the
proof of their love in this collection and that Paul's boasting about 
the church in Corinth was not in vain (16-24).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. MACEDONIA'S EXAMPLE IN GIVING (1-5)
 
 A. AFFLICTED AND POOR, THEY ABOUNDED IN LIBERALITY (1-2)
 1. God's grace was bestowed upon the churches of Macedonia (1)
 2. Despite affliction and deep poverty, with an abundance of joy
 their poverty abounded in riches of liberality (2)
 
 B. PAUL'S OBSERVATION OF THEIR GIVING (3-5)
 1. They gave beyond their ability (3a)
 2. They gave willingly (3b)
 3. They implored Paul to accept their contribution (4)
 4. Beyond Paul's expectations, they gave themselves first to the
 Lord and then to Paul as God willed (5)
 
II. PAUL'S EXHORTATION TO THE CORINTHIANS (6-15)
 
 A. TO ABOUND IN THIS GRACE (6-7)
 1. Titus was sent to complete this grace in them (6)
 2. As the Corinthians abounded in many other things, Paul 
 encourages them to abound in this grace also (7)
 
 B. TO BE MOTIVATED BY THE EXAMPLES OF OTHERS (8-9)
 1. Not by commandment, but the example of others Paul seeks to
 test their love (8)
 2. Remembering the example of Jesus, through whose poverty we
 became rich (9)
 
 C. TO COMPLETE WHAT THEY STARTED (10-11)
  1. It is to their advantage to complete what they started a year
 before (10)
 2. So that there is not only a desire to do it, but the
 completion of it as well (11)
 
 D. TO GIVE WILLINGLY AND ACCORDING TO ABILITY (12)
 1. There must first be a willing mind (12a)
 2. Then it should be according to what one has (12b)
 
 E. TO GIVE SO THAT THERE MIGHT BE EQUALITY (13-15)
 1. Paul does not desire that they burden themselves to ease
 others (13)
 2. But that their abundance might supply others' lack, so there
 can be equality (14)
 3. As in the case of gathering manna, recorded in Exodus 16:18
 (15)
 
III. THE MESSENGERS ADMINISTERING THE COLLECTION (16-24)
 
 A. TITUS (16-17)
 1. Paul could see that God put earnest care for the Corinthians 
 in Titus' heart (16)
 2. For he not only accepted the encouragement to go, but went on
 his own accord (17)
 
 B. A BROTHER WHOSE PRAISE IS IN THE GOSPEL (18-21)
 1. Not mentioned by name, but whose praise was known by all the
 churches (18)
 2. Chosen by the churches to travel with Paul, so that none would
 question Paul's handling of the collection (19-21)
 
 C. A BROTHER OFTEN PROVED DILIGENT IN MANY THINGS (22)
 1. Also not mentioned by name, but well proven (22a)
 2. Known for his diligence, he was very diligent in view of 
 Paul's confidence in the Corinthians (22b)
 
 D. SUMMARY COMMENTS ABOUT THESE THREE MEN (23-24)
  1. Titus is Paul's partner and fellow worker (23a)
 2. The two unnamed brethren are messengers of the churches, the
 glory of Christ (23b)
 3. Corinth encouraged to prove their love and Paul's boasting on
 their behalf to these messengers (24)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
 - Macedonia's example in giving (1-5)
 - Paul's exhortations to the Corinthians (6-15)
 - The messengers administering the collection (16-24)
 
2) What was the condition of the churches in Macedonia? Yet what did
 they have in abundance? (2)
 - They were in a great trial of affliction and had deep poverty
 - Their joy
 
3) What three things are said in how they gave? (3-4)
 - Beyond their ability
 - Freely willing
 - Imploring with much urgency that their gift be received
 
4) How did they go beyond Paul's expectations? (5)
 - By giving of themselves first to the Lord, and then to others
 
5) Why did Paul send Titus? (6)
 - To complete this grace in them, i.e., help them to prepare their
 gift
 
6) What two examples did Paul use motivate them to give? (8-9)
 - The diligence of others (e.g., the Macedonians)
 - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
 
7) What three guidelines does Paul give to govern their giving? (12-14)
 - There must first be a willing mind
 - It is to be according to what one has
 - The idea is equality
 
8) What three men were sent to administer this collection? (16,18,22)
 - Titus
 - The brother whose praise is in the gospel
 - The brother who has often proved diligent in many things
 
9) Why were these men handling the collection, and not Paul? (20-21)
 - To avoiding possible blame; to provide things honorable in the 
 sight of the Lord and men
 
10) What did Paul want the Corinthians to show to these men and the
 other churches? (24)
 - The proof of their love and of Paul's boasting in them

Giving Par Excellence (8:1-7)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. An important element of Christian service is that of "giving"...
  a. Following the NT pattern of taking up a collection, we lay by in
 store on the first day of the week - 1 Co 16:1-2
 b. With such benevolence we seek to provide for needy saints, and 
 support the work of the church
 
2. What is the best way to motivate Christians to give liberally?
 a. Many often appeal to OT examples of giving
 b. E.g., the Israelites and how they were expected to tithe
 c. The argument goes something like this:
 1) God required the Israelites to give a tithe (ten percent)
 2) In the New Covenant we enjoy greater blessings than those 
 under the Old Covenant
 3) So our giving should be at least ten percent if not greater
 
3. Yet the apostle Paul, seeking to inspire the Corinthians to abound 
 in the grace of giving, used the example of the churches of 
 Macedonia - 2 Co 8:1-7
 
4. Shouldn't we do the same?
 a. Why use an example where people gave out of COMPULSION (as was 
 the case in the OT practice of tithing)...
 b. ...when our giving is to be a FREEWILL offering? - cf. 2 Co 8:12;
 9:7
 -- Indeed, I believe the Macedonians provide a much better role 
 model when it comes to Christian liberality!
 
[With that in mind, let's take a closer look at the churches at 
Macedonia who are set before us as examples of "Giving Par 
Excellence"...]
 
I. WHO WERE THE CHURCHES OF MACEDONIA?
 
 A. THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI...
 1. We read of its beginning in Acts 16:11-40
 a. With the conversion of Lydia and her household
  1) Note her hospitality - Ac 16:15
 2) Was this an indication of things to come?
 b. And the conversion of the Philippian Jailor and his family
 1) He too showed hospitality - Ac 16:34
 2) Another example which may help us to appreciate what we
 learn later on
 c. Paul then had to leave abruptly because of the persecution
 - Ac 16:39-40
 2. The epistle to the Philippians was written to them, in which
 we learn...
  a. They helped Paul throughout his ministry - Ph 1:3-5; 4:10,
 14-18
 b. They had continued to suffer for Christ - Ph 1:27-30
 
 B. THE CHURCH AT THESSALONICA...
 1. We read of its beginning in Acts 17:1-10
 a. Many were converted - Ac 17:4
 b. Persecution against them soon arose - Ac 17:5-9
 c. Requiring Paul to leave suddenly - Ac 17:10
 2. The epistles to the Thessalonians were written to this church
 a. They too continued to have trouble - 1 Th 2:14; 2 Th 1:4-5
 b. They excelled in the matter of brotherly love - 1 Th 4:9-10
 
[With this background on the churches of Macedonia, we should not be
surprised that they are presented as a case of "Giving Par Excellence".
As we return to our text (2 Co 8:1-7), let's seek to answer the 
following question...]
 
II. WHAT CHARACTERIZED THEIR GIVING?
 
 A. THEY GAVE "SACRIFICIALLY" - 2 Co 8:2-3a
 1. We've seen that they were in the midst of great affliction (2)
 2. They were experiencing poverty themselves (2)
 3. Yet they gave "beyond their ability" (3a)
 4. This they were not expected to do - cf. 2 Co 8:12-13
 
 B. THEY GAVE "JOYFULLY" - 2 Co 8:2
 1. Somehow they had discovered "the joy of giving"
 2. Perhaps they took to heart the teaching of...
 a. The Lord relating to the blessedness of giving - Ac 20:35
 b. James to the value of persecution - Ja 1:2-4
 3. In any case, this is the kind of giving that God loves - 2 Co
 9:7
 
 C. THEY GAVE "VOLUNTARILY" - 2 Co 8:3
 1. They were "freely willing"
 2. This is the kind of giving God requires today...
 a. We can not command people to give against their will - cf.
 2 Co 8:8
 b. We can only command how it is to be done to help needy 
 saints abroad - cf. 1 Co 16:1-4
 c. Giving must come from "a willing mind" - 2 Co 8:12
 d. Giving must never be done "begrudgingly" or because you
 "have to" - 2 Co 9:7
 e. Otherwise, you might as well not give at all
 
 D. THEY GAVE "PERSISTENTLY" - 2 Co 8:4
 1. As Paul says, "imploring us with much urgency"
 2. They wouldn't take "no" for an answer (or for an easy way 
 out!)
 3. With the Philippians, we know their giving to Paul persisted
 throughout his life
 
 E. THEY GAVE "THEMSELVES" - 2 Co 8:5
 1. Perhaps this explains how they were able to give as they did!
 2. They gave themselves "first to the Lord"
 a. When a person does this, they do not worry about "the cost
 of giving"
 b. For they have the promise of Jesus in Mt 6:25-34
 3. Having given themselves first to the Lord, it is only natural
 that they would give "then to us (others)"
  a. For such is a mark of true discipleship - cf. Jn 13:34-35
 b. And it is a mark of true love for God - cf. 1 Jn 4:20-21
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. What a example to motivate us in the art of giving!
 
2. Here are churches that were not expected to give because of their 
 own poverty
 a. Yet they gave:
 1) Sacrificially
 2) Joyfully
 3) Voluntarily
 4) Persistently
 5) Themselves
 b. They gave:
 1) To support preachers in the spread of the gospel
 2) To help needy Christians in a foreign land
 3) To help an old preacher in his time of need
 
3. Their example is much better than the "tithing" in the OT!
 a. And there are others we could have referred to: Jerusalem, 
 Antioch, etc.
 b. Of course, the supreme example is that of Jesus Christ - 2 Co 8:9
 
4. Brethren, what kind of givers are we?
 a. Those who give out of compulsion, with a grudging obligation?
 b. Or those who like the Macedonians "beg" for the opportunity to
 help?
 -- May the churches of Macedonia serve to remind us of what is 
 involved in "Giving Par Excellence!"
 
Finally, have you thought about what kind of "recipient" you are? 
Christ became poor that we might be rich (2 Co 8:9). Have you accepted
His gracious offer properly, or has it been offered in vain...
 
 "We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to
 receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: "In an acceptable
 time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped
 you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
 salvation." (2 Co 6:1-2)
 
Let the Jews on the Day of Pentecost be your example of "receiving par
excellence" as how one ought to receive the grace of God today! - cf.
Ac 2:36-41

－－《Executable Outlines》

In Rich Generosity

He Who Gathered Much Did Not Have Too Much

He Who Gathered Little Did Not Have Too Little

I. Testimony of the Macedonians

1. Extreme Poverty

2. Beyond Their Ability

3. Urgently Plead

II. Follow the Example of Christ

1. He Was Rich

2. He Become Poor

3. We Become Rich

III. Titus Works for the Offering

1. With Much Enthusiasm

2. Praised by the Churches

3. Often Proved Faithful