2 Corinthians Chapter 8 in Simple English

Read 2 Corinthians Chapter 8

1Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia.

2In a hard test of trouble, their great joy and their deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.

3I can tell you this: they gave as much as they were able, and even more than they were able, and they did it freely.

4They begged us again and again to let them share in the gift and in the work of helping the saints.

5And they did more than we hoped. First they gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us, by the will of God.

6So we asked Titus that, since he had already begun, he should also finish this work of grace among you.

7You are rich in everything: in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all eagerness, and in your love for us. So see that you are rich in this grace also.

8I am not giving you an order. I am telling you how eager others are, to test whether your love is real.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich.

10Here is my advice about this, for it is good for you. A year ago you were the first not only to act, but also to want to act.

11Now finish what you started. You were ready and willing to begin, so now complete it out of what you have.

12For if the willing mind is there first, the gift is accepted by what a person has, not by what he does not have.

13I do not mean that other people should have ease while you are burdened,

14but that things should be equal. At this present time what you have plenty of can supply what they lack, so that what they have plenty of may supply what you lack. Then things will be equal.

15As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same deep care for you.

17He welcomed our request, and because he was so eager, he went to you of his own choice.

18With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for his work in the gospel.

19And that is not all. He was also chosen by the churches to travel with us as we carry this gift. We handle it for the glory of the Lord himself, and to show that we are willing to help.

20We are careful about this, so that no one can blame us for the way we handle this large gift.

21We take care to do what is honest, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people.

22With them we have sent our brother. We have often tested him and found him eager in many things, and now he is even more eager, because he has great confidence in you.

23If anyone asks about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. If anyone asks about our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24So show them, and show the churches, the proof of your love, and that we were right to boast about you.

Explanation

2 Corinthians 8

In short

Paul is asking the church at Corinth to finish collecting money for poor Christians in Jerusalem. He shows how the poor churches in Macedonia gave generously despite their own hardship, and he reminds the Corinthians of Jesus' own sacrifice in becoming poor for their sake.

Context

Paul is writing to the church at Corinth about a collection he is organizing for believers who are suffering hardship in Jerusalem. The Corinthians had promised a year ago to contribute but had not yet completed it. Paul sends trusted messengers, including Titus, to help gather and deliver the gift. This chapter focuses on encouraging them to follow through on their pledge.

What the text says

Verses 1-4 report what happened in Macedonia: though those churches faced severe poverty and hardship, they gave with joy and even asked Paul for the privilege of participating in the collection. Verses 5-6 note that these Macedonians did something more important first, they gave themselves to the Lord before giving money, and Paul asks Titus to help the Corinthians complete what they started.

Verses 7-9 encourage the Corinthians by listing their strengths (faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, love), then point to Christ as their model: though he was rich, he became poor so they might become rich through his poverty.

Verses 10-12 advise the Corinthians to finish what they began; God accepts gifts according to what people have, not what they lack. Verses 13-15 clarify this is not to burden Corinth while easing others, but to create equality over time between rich and poor churches.

Verses 16-22 commend the three messengers Paul is sending: Titus, an unnamed brother famous for the gospel, and another brother proven diligent. Verses 23-24 identify these men as partners in Christ's work and ask Corinth to show them hospitality and prove their love through completing the collection.

Takeaways

The willingness to give matters more than the amount given.
Christ's sacrifice is the pattern for Christian generosity.
Following through on a promise matters.

2 Corinthians 8 - Simple English