Introductory remarks:
Paul has been teaching the comfort of God in the first seven chapters. Now he switches to teaching the principle of Christian giving. In this chapter and the next Paul will teach us about the correct way a Christian should give. The one word I would like to stress in giving is the word grace. Paul uses this word ten times in these two chapters. "Paul tells them that the churches in Macedonia were so anxious to help that they gave more than they could afford. He urges them to finish gathering their donation that they wanted to collect the previous year. Paul tells them that the churches should help each other and they can be sure of help if they are in need. He assures them that those who are handling the money are trustworthy and they should show them that what he brags about them is true" (A Survey of 2 Corinthians By- Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Liberal giving vv. 1-15: Titus and his companions vv. 16-24.
Liberal Giving
Verse 1, "Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia."
LGT "But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia:"
But we make known to you, brethren: notice in the KJV it reads: "we do you to wit", which is old English for "we make known to you." The grace of God: grace is more than 'undeserved favor'; it is God acting and man responding. Where God's grace is manifest, the believer is constrained to give God all the glory. So much can be said about grace, but I will leave you with this, 'grace is all that God has done in order to reconcile man to Himself, and now He expends all His divine favor in order for His child to respond with pleasure to all the doctrines of grace; in the matter of giving, which is Paul's message here, the grace believer responds with excitement at being able to help one another'. Which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia: the believers in Macedonia were known for their unusual liberality in giving.
Verse 2, "How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality."
LGT "That in much proof of tribulation and the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty, abounded to the richness of their liberality."
That in much proof of tribulation: under severe persecution and trials, the Macedonian assemblies displayed their true Christian character. And abundance of their joy: they overflowed with joy. "By the term joy Paul means that spiritual consolation (comfort) by which believers are sustained under their affliction; for the wicked either delude themselves with empty consolations, by avoiding a perception of the evil, and drawing off the mind to rambling thoughts, or else they wholly give way to grief, and allow themselves to be overwhelmed with it. Believers on the other hand, seek occasion of joy in the affliction itself, as we see in the 8th chapter of the Romans, "And we know that all things work together for good, &c." (Calvin). And their deep poverty: their poverty that reached down into the depths of despair. Abounded to the richness of their liberality: this is true Christian giving, when you give out of the pleasure of giving, and not just from the excess of your goods. The lesson here is, they gave even though they were themselves in need, that is, they were more concerned with the welfare of other believers, that they put them first.
Verse 3, "For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves."
LGT "For according to [their] power, I bear witness, and beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of themselves."
Paul says that they gave of their own initiative, and that they were not forced to give through any persuasion on his part. They did not give because it was required, such as a tithe, but they gave cheerfully of their own accord.
Verse 4, "Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints."
LGT "With much entreaty begging of us, for us to receive the grace and the partnership of the service which [was] for the saints."
With much entreaty begging of us: these Christians actually begged Paul to let them give to the poor saints. For us to receive the grace and the partnership: they wanted to partner with Paul in regards to giving. Of the service which was for the saints: they were actually more concerned with the saints of other assemblies than of their own problems. They wanted to extend to others the grace and free favor God had bestowed upon them.
Verse 5, "And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God."
LGT "And not [only] according as we had expected, but themselves they gave first to the Lord, and to us by [the] will of God."
And not only according as we had expected: Paul says they went far beyond what he expected of them. But themselves they gave first to the Lord: this explains the reason they gave so liberally. This is the key to living the Christian life; self-surrender is the only way the Holy Spirit is able to use any of us. God doesn't need great CEO's to accomplish His will, he needs surrendered saints; saints who are ready and able to forget about selfish desires, and be willing to be used by Him. And to us by the will of God: they gave themselves up to be used by the Apostle, who was in the will of God. You see, the fact that they gave themselves up to the will of God, automatically they gave themselves up to Paul, because Paul was doing the will of God.
Verse 6, "Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace."
LGT "Inasmuch that we exhorted Titus, that according as he had made a beginning before, so also he might complete with you also this grace."
Inasmuch that we exhorted Titus: the KJV has desired, which misses the full sense of this phrase, for Paul says that he exhorted Titus in this ministry to the Corinthians. That according as he had made a beginning before: Titus had begun this ministry among the Corinthians. "The sense of this passage seems to be this. 'We were encouraged by this unexpected success among the Macedonians. We were surprised at the extent of their liberality. And encouraged by this, we requested Titus to go among you and finish the collection which you had proposed and which you had begun. Lest you should be outstripped in liberality by the comparatively poor Macedonian Christians, we were anxious that you should perform what you had promised and contemplated. And we employed Titus, therefore, that he might go at once and finish the collection among you'" (Barnes). So also he might complete with you also this grace: he might complete the act of the love gift already collected, and the rest that you might have contemplated in giving to the poor saints in Judea.
Verse 7, "Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also."
LGT "But even as in every [way] ye abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in the love from you to us, in order that also in this grace ye should abound."
But even as in every way ye abound: Paul is commending them, which he did at every opportunity that presented itself, as long as he could do it in truth. In faith: in complete dependence in the gospel of grace. And word: their presenting the gospel to others. And knowledge: in knowledge of Bible doctrine. And all diligence: obeying the gospel. And in the love from you to us: they displayed their love for Paul by their obedience to the Word of God. In order that in this grace ye should abound: Paul would that they abound in understanding grace, and then showing the compassion to others that would bring glory to God.
Verse 8, "I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love."
LGT "Not according to a commandment do I speak, but through the diligence of others, proving your love to be genuine."
Not according to a commandment do I speak: Paul teaches that giving should never be obligatory; he never teaches tithing; he simply teaches to give liberally, and above all, cheerfully. But through the diligence of others: Paul is showing them the correct way to give using the Macedonian assemblies as his object lesson. Proving your love to be genuine: Paul is teaching that love for the poor and needy and afflicted is abundantly clear by their giving; the best way to show our love for God, and that we are His children is to love one another; this is genuine love.
Verse 9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
LGT "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich for the sake of you He became poor, that ye by His poverty might be enriched."
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: the Lord Jesus Christ is, and ever has been, and ever will be, of the same essence with the Father and Holy Spirit, was willing to leave His exalted station in heaven, to become human, in order that He might sacrifice Himself on the cross for all mankind, that we might be saved from our sin, by simply believing in Him; now is this grace or what? Jesus Christ is the Author and finisher of our faith, and He is grace incarnate, and grace in divinity, that is, He is truly human and truly divine. That being rich: this simply means that He was rich in His being the God of the universe. For the sake of you He became poor: the word "became" proves His eternal pre-existence. The fact that He became poor simply refers to His incarnation. Christ became a man, which was part of the sacrifice He made on our behalf. He never regarded the riches of this world in any way. The teaching that He gave up His power as a member of the Godhead is untenable, for He was truly God and truly man; His hypostatic (two natures in one) union made Him the only Theanthropic (He was God and man) member of the universe. For our sakes mean that He gave Himself a ransom that we all might live eternally. This entire verse Paul is putting our giving in perspective of not living for the riches of this world, and by comparison, what we give up here on this earth, pales compared to what Christ gave up for us. In giving we should be "Theocentric" (God centered in all our thoughts concerning this life we live on earth).
Verse 10, "And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago."
LGT "And judgment in this I give: for this to you is profitable, who not only the doing, but also the being willing began before a year ago."
And judgment in this I give: Paul says that he is giving them spiritual advice, and certainly not a command on how much they should give. For this to you is profitable: Paul is exhorting these Corinthian believers that giving is a profitable service, because whatever a man keeps for himself is lost, but what he gives to a friend is forever. The editor of Calvin's commentary has this quote from Martial: "The dexterous [nimble fingered] thief will break open your chest, and carry off your money; a fire, raised by a base incendiary [combustible], will lay in the dust your paternal mansion; but whatever has been given is placed beyond all risk. What you have given away is the only wealth that you will always retain. It is mentioned by Dr. Bennett, in his Lectures on Christ's Preaching, that on the tomb of Robert of Doncaster, there was the following inscription - 'What I gave, I have; what I kept, I lost'". Who not only the doing: the doing is not simply willing; not giving out of obligation and drudgery, but cheerfully. But also the being willing began a year ago: they began a year ago to take up offerings willingly and with the correct Christian principle in view, of giving cheerfully; now Paul says they should continue what they started with the same zeal.
Verse 11, "Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have."
LGT "But now also complete the doing, so that even as [there was] the readiness of being willing, so also the completing that you have."
But now also complete the doing: finish what you started. Don't cool off. The mind can contrive many excuses as why they don't give; from charity begins at home, to, I will give later when I have more to give; flimsy excuses! So that even as there was the readiness of being willing: you all had the right willingness at first, and were in the right frame of mind. So also the complete that you have: give out what you are able to give. Those who have more, should give more; those who have less, should give less; but those who give less should not feel inadequate for their gift; it is not the size of the gift that is accepted, but the heart attitude of the giver, as in the case of the widows mite.
Verse 12, "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."
LGT "For if the readiness is present, according as anyone may is accepted, not according as he has not."
This verse simply means that God does not expect us to give what we don't have; this is simple grace logic. The way this verse begins is the true mental attitude of giving, that is, a willing and ready mind. Our attitude about our giving is central to all grace giving; if unwilling, please don't give, for it is but loss.
Verse 13, "For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened."
LGT "For it is not in order that others [may be] eased, but for you pressure, but of equality."
Paul here is telling the Corinthians that he is not teaching them to give of their abundance in order to put pressure on them, but that they were to give in order that they may ease the burden of their brethren from their abundance. They were obviously able to give more than the Macedonians, but Paul wanted them to have the right frame of mind in their giving. The equality Paul is speaking of is from their giving to help the needy.
Verse 14, "But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality."
LGT "In the present time your abundance for their deficiency, in order that also their abundance may be for your deficiency, so that there should be equality."
In the present time your abundance for their deficiency: the church at Jerusalem was suffering from devastating persecutions, and famine. Paul is saying that the Corinthian believers could cause equality by giving from their abundance. In order that also their abundance may be for your deficiency: if the tables are turned and you Corinthians find yourselves in want, they will be inclined to help you as you helped them. So that there should be equality: "That all may be just an equal. That no unjust burden be borne by any one portion of the great family of the redeemed. Every Christian brother should bear his due proportion" (Barnes).
Verse 15, "As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack."
LGT "Just as it has been written [and stands written], He that [gathered] much had nothing over, and he that [gathered] little did not lack."
Paul is quoting Exodus 16:18, where the children of Israel were provided with manna from heaven for their food in the wilderness wandering. The more able would gather more, and less able gathered less. All was put into common pot and dispersed to each man an omer, which is about five pints. Paul is applying this principle to the Corinthian Church saying that those with more should give more because their wealth is also provided by God, and they should be happy to share with the less fortunate.
Titus and His Companions
Verse 16, "But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you."
LGT "But thanks be to God, who gives the same diligence for you into the heart of Titus."
But thanks be to God: Paul always gives God the glory for the ministry. Who gives the same diligence for you into the heart of Titus: put the same concern in the heart of Titus that was in his own. Paul always assigns to God any spiritual attitude that arises in his mind. Paul rejoices that Titus also desired to take up an offering among the Corinthians, and they were joyful now in giving to poor saints in Jerusalem.
Verse 17, "For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you."
LGT "For he indeed received the exhortation, but being more earnest, of his own accord he went out to you."
For he indeed received the exhortation: Titus had joyfully received his commission to go to the Corinthians from Paul, in order to excite them to join him in the ministry of giving to the saints in Jerusalem. But being more earnest: Titus was more excited about this ministry than Paul had expected. Of his own accord he went out to you: it seems that Titus had already thought about going to the Church in Corinth before Paul had asked him to go.
Verse 18, "And he sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches."
LGT "But we have sent with him the brother of whom the praise [is] in the Glad Tidings through all the assemblies."
But we have sent with him the brother: who this brother was, is impossible to know, and it is immaterial or Paul would have said who he was. Of whom the praise is in the Glad Tidings through all the assemblies: he was well known in all the assemblies for making known the gospel of grace. This man was well known also in Corinth, so they would receive him with open arms.
Verse 19, "And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind."
LGT "And not only [so], but also having been chosen by the assemblies [is] our fellow-traveler with this grace, which is served to the glory of the Lord Himself, and [a witness] of your readiness."
And not only so: not only was he well known by all the assemblies: but also having been chosen by the assemblies: the churches had entire confidence in this brother. Is our fellow-traveler with us with this grace: he was Paul's traveling companion in this entire grace ministry. Which is served to the glory of the Lord Himself: the Lord is glorified when true Christian benevolence is practiced, and what better way than to help others who are in want and suffering. And a witness of your readiness: your willingness to sacrifice yourself in order to help others; by sacrifice, I don't mean martyrdom, but making a sacrificial offering as unto the Lord.
Verse 20, "Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us."
LGT "Avoiding this, that anyone should blame us in this abundance which [is] served by us."
Avoiding this: Paul says that he will not allow himself to be in charge of the funds collected; this is why he had them appoint this man who was well known by all the churches to have charge of the funds. That anyone should blame us in this abundance: Paul did not allow himself to be in a position of having anyone accuse him of embezzling the funds, or use them for his own, against their intended use. Which is served by us: Paul was very careful not to put himself open to the charges of preaching for filthy lucre.
Verse 21, "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."
LGT "For we provide things honest not only before [the] Lord, but also before men."
Paul knew that he was honest before the Lord, however, he also felt the need to set an example of his honest dealings before men, in order to the edification of the church by his example.
Verse 22, "And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you."
LGT "And we sent with them our brother whom we proved often in many things, to be diligent, and now much more diligent by the great confidence which [is] towards you all."
And we sent with them our brother: this was not Paul's personal brother but a brother in Christ. Whom we proved often in many things: whom Paul had tested and he passed with flying colors for his honesty and trustworthiness. To be diligent: He was a co-labor with Paul in his ministry, so Paul had evidence of how faithful a brother he was. And how much more diligent by the great confidence which is toward you all: this brother also had much confidence in the Corinthians that they would give very liberally when he came to collect their offering, and that he himself would show much diligence in this ministry.
Verse 23, "Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ."
LGT "Whether [any inquire] as regards Titus, [he is] my partner and for you a fellow-worker: or our brethren, [they are] messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory."
Whether any inquire as regards Titus: there may be some who did not know Titus personally, and may have questions regarding him. He is my partner: you may take my word for it, for he is my partner in this grace ministry. And for you a fellow-worker: he is sent to serve you, for he has the same goal in mind as all of you in this giving to the saints. They are messengers of assemblies: they are apostles in this sense that they were sent out by the assemblies and they are responsible to these assemblies; they are your servants, they do not come to be served, but to serve. Christ's glory: this is their goal and reason for coming to them, that is, in all that they do, they do to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 24, "Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf."
LGT "Therefore the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf, showing to them in the face of the assemblies."
Therefore the proof of your love: will be in how you receive these apostles, and how you give to them for the poor saints. And of our boasting on your behalf: prove to these apostles that what I have boasted about you and your love for the Lord to be true. Showing to them in the face of the assemblies: "Let it now be seen [by all the assembly] that my boasting was well founded, and that I properly understood your character, and your readiness to contribute to the objects of Christian benevolence" (Barnes). Everything Paul wrote here was from his heart, and should never be construed, as it is done by the liberal churches, that Paul was using psychology on these Christians to entice them to give liberally; everything Paul said with his boasting about the Corinthians was to the glory of Christ, and from what he received from Titus, who was also a tried and true companion to Paul. Paul was not a trickster, but inspired by the Holy Spirit. In the next chapter Paul will continue his teaching about giving.
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