2 How that G3754 in G1722 a great G4183 trial G1382 of affliction G2347 the abundance G4050 of their G846 joy G5479 and G2532 their G846 deep G899 poverty G2596 G4432 abounded G4052 unto G1519 the riches G4149 of their G846 liberality. G572
Hearken, G191 my G3450 beloved G27 brethren, G80 Hath G1586 not G3756 God G2316 chosen G1586 the poor G4434 of this G5127 world G2889 rich G4145 in G1722 faith, G4102 and G2532 heirs G2818 of the kingdom G932 which G3739 he hath promised G1861 to them that love G25 him? G846
For G1063 our G2257 rejoicing G2746 is G2076 this, G3778 the testimony G3142 of our G2257 conscience, G4893 that G3754 in G1722 simplicity G572 and G2532 godly G2316 sincerity, G1505 not G3756 with G1722 fleshly G4559 wisdom, G4678 but G235 by G1722 the grace G5485 of God, G2316 we have had our conversation G390 in G1722 the world, G2889 and G1161 more abundantly G4056 to G4314 you-ward. G5209
I know G1492 thy G4675 works, G2041 and G2532 tribulation, G2347 and G2532 poverty, G4432 (but G1161 thou art G1488 rich) G4145 and G2532 I know the blasphemy G988 of them which G3588 say G3004 they G1438 are G1511 Jews, G2453 and G2532 are G1526 not, G3756 but G235 are the synagogue G4864 of Satan. G4567
That no man G3367 should be moved G4525 by G1722 these G5025 afflictions: G2347 for G1063 yourselves G846 know G1492 that G3754 we are appointed G2749 thereunto. G1519 G5124 For G1063 verily, G2532 when G3753 we were G2258 with G4314 you, G5209 we told G4302 you G5213 before G4302 that G3754 we should G3195 suffer tribulation; G2346 even G2532 as G2531 it came to pass, G1096 and G2532 ye know. G1492
For G1063 ye, G5210 brethren, G80 became G1096 followers G3402 of the churches G1577 of God G2316 which G3588 in G1722 Judaea G2449 are G5607 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus: G2424 for G3754 ye G5210 also G2532 have suffered G3958 like things G5024 of G5259 your own G2398 countrymen, G4853 even G2532 as G2531 they have G846 of G5259 the Jews: G2453
Whiles by G1223 the experiment G1382 of this G5026 ministration G1248 they glorify G1392 God G2316 for G1909 your G5216 professed G3671 subjection G5292 unto G1519 the gospel G2098 of Christ, G5547 and G2532 for your liberal G572 distribution G2842 unto G1519 them, G846 and G2532 unto G1519 all G3956 men;
Save H657 when there shall be no poor H34 among you; for the LORD H3068 shall greatly H1288 bless H1288 thee in the land H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee for an inheritance H5159 to possess H3423 it:
Or G1535 he that exhorteth, G3870 on G1722 exhortation: G3874 he that giveth, G3330 let him do it with G1722 simplicity; G572 he that ruleth, G4291 with G1722 diligence; G4710 he that sheweth mercy, G1653 with G1722 cheerfulness. G2432
And G2532 sold G4097 their possessions G2933 and G2532 goods, G5223 and G2532 parted G1266 them G846 to all G3956 men, as G2530 every man G5100 had G302 G2192 need. G5532 And G5037 they, continuing G4342 daily G2596 G2250 with one accord G3661 in G1722 the temple, G2411 and G5037 breaking G2806 bread G740 from G2596 house to house, G3624 did eat G3335 their meat G5160 with G1722 gladness G20 and G2532 singleness G858 of heart, G2588
And G1161 he looked up, G308 and saw G1492 the rich men G4145 casting G906 their G846 gifts G1435 into G1519 the treasury. G1049 And G1161 he saw G1492 also G2532 a certain G5100 poor G3998 widow G5503 casting G906 in thither G1563 two G1417 mites. G3016 And G2532 he said, G2036 Of a truth G230 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 that G3754 this G3778 poor G4434 widow G5503 hath cast G906 in more than G4119 they all: G3956 For G1063 all G537 these G3778 have of G1537 their G846 abundance G4052 cast G906 in unto G1519 the offerings G1435 of God: G2316 but G1161 she G3778 G846 of G1537 her G846 penury G5303 hath cast G906 in all G537 the living G979 that G3739 she had. G2192
And G2532 there came G2064 a certain G3391 poor G4434 widow, G5503 and she threw in G906 two G1417 mites, G3016 which make G3603 a farthing. G2835 And G2532 he called G4341 unto him his G846 disciples, G3101 and saith G3004 unto them, G846 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 this G3778 poor G4434 widow G5503 hath cast G906 more G4119 in, G906 than all G3956 they which have cast G906 into G1519 the treasury: G1049 For G1063 all G3956 they did cast in G906 of G1537 their G846 abundance; G4052 but G1161 she G3778 G846 of G1537 her G846 want G5304 did cast in G906 all G3956 that G3745 she had, G2192 even all G3650 her G846 living. G979
The vile person H5036 shall be no more called H7121 liberal, H5081 nor the churl H3596 said H559 to be bountiful. H7771 For the vile person H5036 will speak H1696 villany, H5039 and his heart H3820 will work H6213 iniquity, H205 to practise H6213 hypocrisy, H2612 and to utter H1696 error H8442 against the LORD, H3068 to make empty H7324 the soul H5315 of the hungry, H7457 and he will cause the drink H4945 of the thirsty H6771 to fail. H2637 The instruments H3627 also of the churl H3596 are evil: H7451 he deviseth H3289 wicked devices H2154 to destroy H2254 the poor H6041 H6035 with lying H8267 words, H561 even when the needy H34 speaketh H1696 right. H4941 But the liberal H5081 deviseth H3289 liberal things; H5081 and by liberal things H5081 shall he stand. H6965
The liberal H1293 soul H5315 shall be made fat: H1878 and he that watereth H7301 shall be watered H3384 also himself.
Then he said H559 unto them, Go your way, H3212 eat H398 the fat, H4924 and drink H8354 the sweet, H4477 and send H7971 portions H4490 unto them for whom nothing is prepared: H3559 for this day H3117 is holy H6918 unto our Lord: H113 neither be ye sorry; H6087 for the joy H2304 of the LORD H3068 is your strength. H4581 So the Levites H3881 stilled H2814 all the people, H5971 saying, H559 Hold your peace, H2013 for the day H3117 is holy; H6918 neither be ye grieved. H6087 And all the people H5971 went their way H3212 to eat, H398 and to drink, H8354 and to send H7971 portions, H4490 and to make H6213 great H1419 mirth, H8057 because they had understood H995 the words H1697 that were declared H3045 unto them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
In this and the following chapter Paul is exhorting and directing the Corinthians about a particular work of charity-to relieve the necessities of the poor saints at Jerusalem and in Judea, according to the good example of the churches in Macedonia, Rom. 15:26. The Christians at Jerusalem, through war, famine, and persecution, had become poor, many of them had fallen into decay, and perhaps most of them were but poor when they first embraced Christianity; for Christ said, "The poor receive the gospel.' Now Paul, though he was the apostle of the Gentiles, had a fonder regard, and kind concern, for those among the Jews who were converted to the Christian faith; and, though many of them had not so much affection to the Gentile converts as they ought to have had, yet the apostle would have the Gentiles to be kind to them, and stirred them up to contribute liberally for their relief. Upon this subject he is very copious, and writes very affectingly. In this eighth chapter he acquaints the Corinthians with, and commends, the good example of the Macedonians in this work of charity, and that Titus was sent to Corinth to collect their bounty (v. 1-6). He the proceeds to urge this duty with several cogent arguments (v. 7-15), and commends the persons who were employed in this affair (v. 16-24).
2Cr 8:1-6
Observe here,
2Cr 8:7-15
In these verses the apostle uses several cogent arguments to stir up the Corinthians to this good work of charity.
2Cr 8:16-24
In these verses the apostle commends the brethren who were sent to them to collect their charity; and as it were, gives them letters credential, that, if they were enquired after (v. 23), if any should be inquisitive or suspicious concerning them, it might be known who they were and how safely they might be trusted.