2 Corinthians 8: The Grace of Giving
Pointing to the Macedonians' overflowing generosity and to Christ who became poor, Paul urges the church to complete their gift for the saints.
2 Corinthians 8 (WEB)
1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;
2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.
3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
5 This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
10 I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.
11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.
15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
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 through all the assemblies.
19 Not only so, but who 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.
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 in front of the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
2 Corinthians 8 (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 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.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
2 Corinthians 8 (ASV)
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;
2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
4 beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:
5 and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
6 Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.
7 But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.
10 And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.
11 But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.
13 For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;
14 but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:
15 as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack.
16 But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
17 For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.
18 And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches;
19 and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness:
20 avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us:
21 for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And 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 hath in you.
23 Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward; or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ.
24 Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.
Summary
Paul tells the Corinthians about the grace God has given the churches of Macedonia, who, in the midst of severe affliction and deep poverty, overflowed with abundant joy and rich generosity. Beyond their ability and entirely of their own free will, they begged for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints, first giving themselves to the Lord and then to Paul by the will of God. Encouraged by this, Paul urged Titus to help complete among the Corinthians the gracious work he had begun. Just as they excel in faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness, and love, Paul wants them to excel also in this grace of giving. He is not commanding them but testing the genuineness of their love against the earnestness of others, holding up the supreme example of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, who, though rich, became poor for their sakes so that through his poverty they might become rich. Paul advises them to finish what they so eagerly began a year ago, for the readiness to will it should be matched by completing it according to their means. A gift is acceptable according to what one has, not what one does not have. The aim is not to relieve others by burdening them, but fairness—their present abundance supplying others' need, so that one day others' abundance might supply theirs, as Scripture says of the manna, that the one who gathered much had nothing left over and the one who gathered little lacked nothing. Paul thanks God for putting the same earnest care into Titus, who is eager to come, and explains that he is sending with him a respected brother appointed by the churches and another proven brother, taking pains to act honorably in handling this generous gift so no one can fault them. He commends Titus as his partner and the brothers as messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ, urging the Corinthians to show them the proof of their love.
Main Characters
- Paul — The apostle who organizes the collection for the saints with care and integrity, urging the church to complete their gift as an expression of grace and love.
- The Macedonian churches — Believers who, despite affliction and deep poverty, gave joyfully and beyond their means, begging for the privilege of sharing in the relief of the saints.
- Christ Jesus — The supreme example of generous grace, who though rich became poor for our sakes, so that through his poverty we might become rich.
- Titus and the brothers — Trusted, accountable messengers of the churches sent to complete and carry the gift honorably in the sight of the Lord and of people.
Key Verse
2 Corinthians 8:9 (WEB)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
Lessons Learned
- Generosity flows from grace and joy, not from wealth or comfortable circumstances.
- The poverty of Christ, who made us rich, is the heart and model of Christian giving.
- What we have already begun in eagerness should be carried through to completion.
- Handling money for God's work must be marked by integrity and accountability.
- Generosity overflows from joy, not surplus. In Macedonia “the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2, WEB). Giving grows from grace, not abundance.
- Christ's poverty is our pattern. “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9, WEB). The gospel itself fuels generosity.
- Finish what you begin. “Now complete the doing also… out of your ability” (2 Corinthians 8:11, WEB). Good intentions are meant to become completed deeds.
- Handle gifts with integrity. Paul takes care for “honorable things… in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21, WEB). God's work demands transparent stewardship.
- What is remarkable about how the Macedonians gave, given their circumstances (8:1-5)?
- How does the example of Christ's grace in verse 9 shape the way we think about giving?
- Why does Paul stress completing the gift they had already begun (8:10-12)?
- What principle of fairness or “equality” does Paul describe in verses 13-15?
- How might the example of Christ, who became poor to make you rich, reshape your own generosity?
- Despite “much proof of affliction” and “deep poverty,” the Macedonians gave with “abundance of their joy” and “riches of their liberality,” even “beyond their power” and of their own accord (8:2-3). Most strikingly, they begged for the privilege and “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (8:5). Their giving flowed from joyful surrender to God, not from having plenty.
- Paul points to “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor” (8:9). Christ's self-giving—leaving heavenly riches to make us spiritually rich—is the pattern and motive for all Christian generosity. We give because we have received an immeasurable gift; gospel grace produces generous hearts.
- The Corinthians had eagerly begun the collection a year earlier, so Paul urges them to “complete the doing also” (8:11). Readiness to will it should be matched by following through. Good intentions left unfinished accomplish nothing; Paul gently calls them to translate their earlier enthusiasm into actual, completed giving according to their means.
- Paul describes “equality”: their present “abundance… supplies their lack,” so that another time others' abundance may supply theirs (8:14). The aim is mutual care within Christ's body, not impoverishing the givers. He cites the manna, where the one who gathered much had no excess and the one who gathered little had no want (8:15), picturing God's people sharing so all have enough.
- This is a personal-application question. The grace of Christ, who “became poor… that you through his poverty might become rich” (8:9), is the deepest motive for generosity. Invite members to consider how dwelling on this gift might loosen their grip on possessions. As leader, keep the focus on grateful, free-hearted giving rather than guilt or pressure.