2 Corinthians 8: It's Just Right
(NRSV, 1989)
1 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; 2 for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, 4 begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints— 5 and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, 6 so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. 7 Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
Paul now turns his attention away from his and Titus’ relationship with the Corinthians to tackle what is the most pressing problem facing the Church of Christ: relieving the hardship faced by Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. What this hardship was is not precisely known, but many believe that a famine had, again, begun in Jerusalem as it was, apparently, present in Macedonia as well. Paul praises the Macedonians for demanding to help him in his collection for the Jerusalem Christians, and even more because the Macedonians were in “a severe ordeal of affliction…and…extreme poverty [yet had] overflowed in a wealth of generosity…” The Macedonians gave what they could.
This generosity was the result of their commitment to Christ, since “they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to [Paul]”—perhaps to encourage Titus to motivate the Corinthians to follow their lead. Paul tells the Corinthians that as they first commit themselves to the Lord they will grow “in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in [Paul’s] love for them” and, subsequently, their generosity.
8 I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10 And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— 11 now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.
This is something that the Corinthians must want to do; it must be a work of their hearts just as it was in Macedonia. For encouragement Paul reminds them of “the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for [their] sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty [they] might become rich.” This is a thought that Paul will repeat in later letters—and in the case of Philippians even the words will be pretty much reused. We have received to give. Although this collection had begun in the congregation, it had not yet been completed, and Paul was eager for it to be, but he stresses only “according to [their] means.”
12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. 13 I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between 14 your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. 15 As it is written,
“The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little.”
Is your heart inclined to generosity? If it is, Paul tells us that whatever gift we can afford is enough. Giving all you have to another, making that person rich and yourself poor, is not the point; there should not “be relief for others and pressure on you”. My condolences to any television preacher whose flock chooses to read the bible for themselves. The concern here is not the amount of money that the Corinthians have but the desire of the heart and the “fair balance between [their] present abundance and [the Jerusalem Christians’] need.” Paul wants them to realize, again, that we receive from God to give to others. Paul uses Exodus 16:18 as an example, when God began to provide manna to His people and commanded them to gather only what they needed for each do: No one had too much, and no one had too little.
16 But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same eagerness for you that I myself have. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but since he is more eager than ever, he is going to you of his own accord.
Titus is as eager as Paul to lead the Corinthians in their generosity. Again, Paul stresses that this is of Titus’ “own accord.”
18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his proclaiming the good news; 19 and not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this generous undertaking for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our goodwill.
Paul here is likely speaking about Timothy. God will provide the saints with help when it is needed.
20 We intend that no one should blame us about this generous gift that we are administering, 21 for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found eager in many matters, but who is now more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you.
Paul wants no one to be able to claim that there has been any financial fraud in the distribution of the gifts from the Gentile churches. Verse twenty-one is the standout here for me, “for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others.” It seems that the need for transparency has been paramount in the Church from the very beginning when money is involved. Paul is sending a third person, a third set of eyes and ears for the sake of accountability.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker in your service; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
The churches are described here as “the glory of Christ.” This is something that we need to remember in our day and age. We the Church do not exist for ourselves, to perpetuate our legacies, or have others to meet our needs. No, the Church is the reflection and the image of Christ, brought into being to be God’s righteousness in the world.
16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord. 18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies. 19 Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.
Titus’ concern arises from God’s motivation. Like Macedonia, he first filled his heart with desire for the things of God which gave rise to his most generous spirit. Here, too, Paul adds an addendum concerning Timothy. He is being sent with Titus not on Paul’s initiative alone but at the behest of “the assemblies,” the Church.
20 We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us. 21 Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Transparency is so important to Paul that he repeats what he just told them—just so no one can claim that they didn’t get the memo.