65 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CORINTHIANS 8 In this chapter the apostle stirs up the Corinthians, to make a collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, by a variety of arguments, and gives a commendation of Titus and some other brethren, who were appointed messengers to them on that account. He first sets before them the example of the Macedonian churches,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God,.... The apostle having said everything that was proper to conciliate the minds and affections of the Corinthians to him, and the matter in difference being adjusted to the satisfaction of all parties concerned; he proposes what he had wisely postponed till all was over, the making a...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
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. xv. 26. The Christians at Jerusalem, through war, famine, and persecution, had become poor,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; That is a quaint old expression, “We do you to wit.” It means, “We would let you know, we would tell you, we would inform you of what the Macedonia saints have done;” and he does not at first say, “We would let you know of the liberality which the...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit Or “we make you to know.”
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. It is good to stir one Christian up by the example of another, and Paul excites those at Corinth by the example of the churches in Macedonia —especially,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
How that in a great trial of affliction,.... The apostle proceeds to show the condition these churches were in when, and the manner in which, they contributed to the relief of others. They were in affliction: they received the Gospel at first in much affliction, as did the church at Thessalonica, which was one of them; and afterwards suffered much...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of the joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. They were very poor people in Macedonia but they loved God so much that they abounded in liberality. Considering how little they possessed, and how much they were tried and persecuted, they had been wonderfully...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
For to [their] power, I bear record,.... They gave according to their ability, to the utmost of it, which is the most that can be desired, or be given; for no man can give more than he has, nor is he required to do more than he is able: yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; not that they did or could do beyond their power;...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; They were willing to give even beyond their power. They gave up to the full limit of what they could do, and then wished that they could give even more. And notice that “they were willing of themselves.” Paul had not to stir them up to do this, nor even...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves: Without any pressure: without even a hint — spontaneously.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Praying us with much entreaty,.... They not only gave freely, being unasked by the apostles; but they sought to them, and earnestly entreated them, that they would receive the gift; the beneficence, what they had so freely and generously collected: and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints; what they had communicated for the service of...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. Paul did not have to beg them to give, but they begged him to take their gifts; and when the saints of God are in a right state, they come forward voluntarily, as Paul says that these Macedonian Christians did, “praying...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. “Take upon us the communion,” for that blessed word “Koinonia,” communion, is applied not only to the Lord’s supper, and to such fellowship as that but to communion with poor saints — fellowship with them by helping their...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And this they did not as we hoped,.... All this was unexpected by the apostles, who knew their great affliction and deep poverty, and therefore could not have hoped for such a collection from them; or that they would have desired the apostle to have ministered it for them: but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
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. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Paul said, “Titus, do not let the Corinthians be behind the Macedonians in this matter. Go and show them how they may receive...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And this they did, not as we hoped, That is, “according to our hopes.”
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Insomuch that we desired Titus,.... Observing the very great readiness, cheerfulness, and liberality of the poor Macedonians in this matter, the apostles could do no other than desire Titus to forward, hasten, and accomplish a like liberal contribution among the Corinthians; or the sense is, that the Macedonians not only prayed with much entreaty,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
But first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. They first gave of themselves to God, and then asked Paul to take it that he might use it for God in the distribution of Christian charity among the poor saints at Jerusalem.
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Inasmuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. They were a famous church — this church at Corinth, having gifted men in...