2 Corinthians

8:8-15

7. The collection for the believers in Palestine, 8:1-9:15

ii] The generosity of Christ

The passage before us is part of a wider section running from 8:1-9:15. The subject of the section is the collection of funds for the poor believers ("saints") in Jerusalem. In 8:1-6 Paul details the generosity of the Macedonian churches toward this collection, and in v7 he encourages the Corinthian believers to act with similar generosity - "to excell in the grace of giving." "I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love", v8, Peterson. Paul supports his exhortation with the example of Christ, his gracious self-giving, v9, and then encourages the Corinthians to finalize the collection first begun when Titus visited them on Paul's behalf the previous year, v10-12. Paul then supports his exhortation with the theological principle of equity, v13-15.

The poverty of the believers in Palestine is obviously quite serious, but at the same time, Paul is driven by a theological imperative - the Gentiles bearing gifts to God's historic people Israel. See introductory note 2Cor.8:1-7.

epitaghn (h) "commanding" - [I speak not according to] a command, authority. Paul is careful not to demand that the Corinthians support the collection for the saints. They have only just come back on side and so tact is required. Presumably "I am not issuing an apostolic instruction", rather than "I have no word from the Lord on this matter."

dokimazwn (docimazw) pres. part. "test" - proving, trying, testing. "Test" = "discover to be suitable through examination", Harris. The participle is possibly an example of a participle used as a finite verb, but probably final expressing purpose, "in order to prove", Plummer; "I say it by way of making the zeal of others serve also as a means for testing whatever genuine love there may be in you", Cassirer. The stress is on comparing, not testing, the generosity of the Corinthians with the Macedonians, whose generosity Paul has already alluded to, 8:1. "I don't want you to read this as an order. It is only my suggestion, prompted by what I have seen in others of eagerness to help and here is a way to prove the reality of your love", Phillips.

gnhsion (oV) "the sincerity [of your love]" - genuine, sincere. Paul want's to confirm the "reality" of their commitment to the collection for the saints.

ginwskete (ginwskw) pres. "you know" - you know. The Corinthians already understand what Paul is about to say; "you already understand."

carin (iV ewV) "the grace" - The word does get used differently in different contexts, but primarily it refers to God's covenant mercy, a "divine attribute, namely, love in action, expressed on sinners", Martin.

tou kurious hJmwn Ihsou Cristou "of our Lord Jesus Christ" - The genitive is usually treated as subjective, "the grace that was shown by our Lord Jesus Christ", Harris, but a simple adjectival / possessive sense should not be ruled out in that God's gracious nature, of its very self, is outward acting, is "love in action".

eptwceusen (ptwceuw) aor. "he became poor" - live the life of a poor person. This is clearly a reference to the incarnation. It could be argued that Jesus here identifies with the materially poor, but it is more likely that he identifies with the poor in spirit, the sinner humbled before God and seeking his mercy.

plousioV wJn "though he was rich" - being rich. The participle of the verb to-be here forms a concessive clause, "even though he was rich." Most commentators see the riches as Christ's "being in the form of God", ie. his riches are his pre-existent status, cf. Gal.4:5.

iJna + subj. "so that" - that. Introducing a purpose/result clause.

plouthshte (ploutew) aor. subj. "you ..... might become rich" - may become rich, wealthy. At face value, being rich involves possessing the consequences of Christ's incarnation, namely salvation. Yet, a more subtle explanation sees "being rich" as acting out our faith, in this case, contributing to the poor saints in Jerusalem. Christ identifies with our poverty that we might share his riches - love in action. So, we could paraphrase the clause, "so that through his poverty you might become rich in generosity."

genwmhn (h) "advice" - advice, opinion. "Opinion" is better, Paul is going softly with the Corinthian believers; "I am only giving you my opinion on this matter."

sumferei (sumferw) pres. "[what] is best [for you]" - [this] is profitable, expedient, advantageous [for you]. The question is, what is expedient? Is it Paul's advice to them, or is it expedient that he gives this advice to them? Is it expedient for them to be involved in the collection for the saints?

oiJtineV (oJstiV) pro. "-" - [you] who [last year ......]. Stronger than the relative pronoun "who" and so here could be translated "you were the kind of people." They were enthusiastic for the collection, not only being the first to contribute towards it, but were the first to decide for it. In v10b the Greek grammar is difficult, but it is likely that Paul is being complementary of the Corinthians early enthusiasm toward the collection for the purpose of encouraging them to take up the project again.

proenhxasqe (proenarcomai) aor. "you were the first" - you began previously. "As far back as last year you were the first to want to do it", Barclay.

to poihsai (poiew) aor. inf. "to give" - the ones doing. Articular infinitive, as with the one following, "the willing", function as substantives. The Corinthians were the first "to do", aorist, but have not followed through; hopefully Paul can count on their inclination still "to will", present tense, for it is "the willing" that will produce the results and it is this that Paul appeals to.

epitelesate (epitelew) aor. imp. "finish" - finish, complete. "Complete the undertaking", "bring the undertaking to fruition."

to poihsai (poiew) aor. inf. "the work" - the making, doing. The articular infinitive function as a substantive, object of the verb "finish". Here probably the Corinthians' "undertaking" to support the collection.

hJ proqumia (a) "eager [willingness]" - eagerness, zeal, enthusiasm [of the willingness]. Possibly "readiness", they were once ready to give, as well as willing to give.

ek tou ecein "according to your means" - out of what you have. Paul is again being sensitive rather than demanding. "Give out of what you can spare."

"If the will to give is there, God will accpt what gift a person's resources make it possible for them to give; he does not demand a gift which is beyond their resources", Barclay.

hJ proqumia (a) "willingness" - Paul continues with his thought that what is important is the Corinthians eagerness to support the mission. Their actual financial support will reflect their capacity to give.

prokeitai (prokeimai) pres. "is there" - is already there, set before. The Corinthians eagerness for the collection is already confirmed.

euprosdektoV adj. "acceptable" - "Acceptable to God" is better than acceptable to the Corinthians capacity to give.

kaqo ean "according to what [one has]" - in accordance with whatever. It is acceptable to God for a person to give according to their abundance (what they may have) not according to their poverty (what they don't have).

In support of his request of the Corinthian believers, Paul now annunciates the principle of equality.

gar "for" - Expressing cause/reason.

iJna "[Our desire is not] that" - that. "Our desire" is not in the Greek, but helps to express the sense of the verse. Moule suggests that the hina clause probably serves as an imperative infinitive; "let there not be." Better treated as a form of dependent statement expressing content "it is not that / indeed it is not a question of a relieving of others at the expense of your own afflictions."

anesiV (iV ewV) "relieved" - release from pressure. "I am not trying to make it easier for others by making it harder for you", CEV.

isathtoV (hV htoV) "equality" - equality, fair dealing. The Corinthians should share with their not-so-well-off brothers in Jerusalem, given that the Jerusalem church has shared the gospel with them. From our abundance we share, and visa versa. Such is fair dealing. The principle of equality within the brotherhood relates to all needs, spiritual and physical. It is doubtful that Paul is saying the Gentiles provide the funding and the Jewish believers provide the gospel, rather that the flow, whether spiritual or physical, is both ways, depending on need.

en to nun kairw "at the present time" - Paul may simply be saying "at the present moment" the Corinthian believers are economically sound and can share with the Palestinian believers in their time of financial need. It is often argued that there was a drought throughout Palestine at the time. Yet, Paul is more intent on the Gentiles fulfilling scripture by sending gifts to Israel as a sign that the kingdom is now. Given this theological perspective, the "present time" is the "now" time of the kingdom, the time of fulfilment. So, this "present time" refers to "the era when the promises of God concerning the new covenant of righteousness and the Spirit and the long-awaited 'day of salvation' have been fulfilled", Barnett, cf. Martin, contra Furnish.

iJna "so that [in turn]" - that [also]. Introducing a purpose clause, "in order that", although result is possible; "with the result that." Some argue that the offering of the Gentiles to Israel at this moment in time "is in order that" Israel may give return blessings in the coming age when God's focus is again on his historic people. See Romans 9-11.

In support of his call for equality, Paul quotes from Exodus 16:18, a text which refers to the gathering of manna by the Israelites. The Israelites were to only have "an omer apiece". On collecting the manna, some collected more and some less, but when each took their omer it equalled out. Of course, it is form such principles that Christian socialism emerged and tried, in this "now" time, to create "heaven on earth." The "not yet" reality of the kingdom saw its demize; for the "now", greed too often transcends love.

oJ to polu "he that gathered much" - the one the much. The "gathered" is implied and so may be read as "has".

epleonasen (pleonazw) aor. "have too much" - have an abundance. The quotation has no Christological significance, rather it simply illustrates fair dealing under God.

2 Corinthians Introduction

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