ll CORINTHIANS LESSON 10

     We will begin this lesson in II Corinthians 8:1 "Moreover,
brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the
churches of Macedonia;"

     Paul, in this, is bringing to the attention of the church at
Corinth the progress made at the Macedonian churches. The only two
that I am familiar with, is the one at Philippi and the one at
Thessalonica. God had shown great favor to these churches. Paul tells
one church of the good workings of another church to get them to do
the same things. Many of us do better after we see an example.

     II Corinthians 8:2 "How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches
of their liberality."

     It seemed as if the people attending the Macedonian churches,
were not as well off financially as the church here at Corinth. These
churches {even though they were financially poor} had been very
generous in their giving to the poor in Jerusalem. The affliction, it
seems, was to see just how much Christian faith they really had. We
know that the church in Philippi started in Lydia's home.

     II Corinthians 8:3 "For to [their] power, I bear record, yea, and
beyond [their] power [they were] willing of themselves;"

     The power, spoken of here, is the Holy Ghost power to minister.
They not only ministered in the gifts the Holy Ghost had bestowed upon
them, but of their material wealth {as little as it was}.

     II Corinthians 8:4 "Praying us with much intreaty that we would
receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering
to the saints."

     It seemed they had insisted on Paul allowing them to give to the
saints in Jerusalem. It seemed they wanted Paul to be in charge of the
gift, and to take it to where it was needed.

     II Corinthians 8:5 "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."

     It seemed they were very poor, and Paul had not expected them to
give anything, but they insisted of giving of themselves and their
funds, as well. They gave like the widow with the mites, unselfishly.
They gave of their need and not of their abundance.

     II Corinthians 8:6 "Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he
had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also."

     Paul is encouraging these people in Corinth to give with such
unselfishness, as they had in Macedonia. Titus was the acting
evangelist at the time in Corinth, so it would be his lot to receive
from the people at Corinth.

     II Corinthians 8:7 "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."

     Paul is saying, you have done well in your faith, and all of the
other things of God. Give just as well as you have done the other
things. Giving is a gift of God, as well as knowledge and utterance.

     II Corinthians 8:8 "I speak not by commandment, but by occasion
of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your
love."

     Paul is not commanding the church at Corinth to do this, but is
just encouraging them to do this. Sincere love is associated with
giving to others who cannot help themselves. This type of love and
giving asks nothing in return.

     II Corinthians 8:9 "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."

     Really, the earth and everything and everyone in it belonged to
Jesus. He was Creator. His entire creation belonged to Him. When you
speak of being rich, this is the richest of all. Jesus did not use
this to win people to the Lord. He did not use this to spare Himself
the cross either. It was His, but He lived as if nothing belonged to
Him. Once, He caused the coin to be in the fish's mouth to pay the tax
collector. His mother Mary gave the offering at the temple as someone
who was poor. Possibly the gold that was brought to Him at His birth
was enough to keep Him, and Mary, and Joseph in Egypt.  We know that
when there was a need of others, Jesus took care of that need. He was
rich in good deeds toward men. He had no need for money.

     II Corinthians 8:10 "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."

     This offering that they were to give was to be of their own free
will, not of necessity. Notice, this is not a command from Paul, but a
suggestion.

     II Corinthians 8:11 "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."

     This is saying, not to promise, and then not do it. What you have
promised, do. They had agreed this would be good to do, now carry that
promise out.

     II Corinthians 8:12 "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."

     God counts the gift, not so much in how much you gave, but in how
much you gave in the face of your ability to give. The widow's mites
was a great gift, because she gave of her need, not of her abundance.
This is true here, as well. God appreciates a sacrificial gift more
than he does a gift out of your excess.

     II Corinthians 8:13 "For [I mean] not that other men be eased,
and ye burdened:"

     Paul is saying, he does not want them to be lacking and give to
others who do not need it any more than they do themselves. Paul is
saying, if ye can give, do it.

     II Corinthians 8:14 "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:"

     Paul is saying, that this time the Corinthians are giving to help
others who have greater need. The next time the situation may be
turned around, and others might have to give to the necessity of the
Corinthians.

     II Corinthians 8:15 "As it is written, He that [had gathered]
much had nothing over; and he that [had gathered] little had no lack."

     Paul is trying to teach them a principal in giving here. We can
all use all that we make, but many of us could do with a great deal
less, if necessity arose. In the end, it all equals out.

     II Corinthians 8:16 "But thanks [be] to God, which put the same
earnest care into the heart of Titus for you."

     Paul is thanking God that Titus loved the Corinthians like he
did. He knows that Titus will tell them as he has, what is the best
thing to do.

     II Corinthians 8:17 "For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but
being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you."

     Paul had given the message to Titus, and Titus volunteered to
take the message for Paul. It seemed that Titus was more forward with
the message than even Paul would have been.

      II Corinthians 8:18 "And we have sent with him the brother,
whose praise [is] in the gospel throughout all the churches;"

     We have discussed before the importance of them going out by
twos. Jesus had sent them out by twos to minister. One thing was the
prayer of agreement. Some believe the other brother that was sent was
Luke. It could have been any of them such as Barnabus, or Silas. We
would be guessing to say. Whoever he was, he was highly thought of by
the Christians.

     II Corinthians 8:19 "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:"

     We have mentioned before, that there was usually a large party
who travelled with Paul. Luke was nearly always with Paul. Whoever
this was that Paul sent, would rejoin Paul and the larger group after
they had made this necessary trip to Corinth. All of them taught the
same message of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their mind was
ready, because they had, without hesitation, accepted the message of
God.

     II Corinthians 8:20 "Avoiding this, that no man should blame us
in this abundance which is administered by us:"

     Paul, really did not want to handle the money, because he did not
want anyone thinking that was why he was ministering. Paul had a great
deal of authority, and he did not want anyone accusing him of misusing
this authority.

     II Corinthians 8:21 "Providing for honest things, not only in the
sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."

     Paul knew that the Lord knew what he was doing and there was no
problem there. The people were looking for things that they might
accuse Paul of. He would give them no room to accuse him in this
matter. He did not even want to give the appearance of evil.

     II Corinthians 8:22 "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."

     Paul has sent someone he trusts to bring the offering. He is,
also, showing great trust in the people of Corinth. He knows they will
come through with an offering to help their less fortunate brothers.

     II Corinthians 8:23 "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."

     Paul is just telling them here, that they can trust Titus, and
the brother Paul sent with Titus, with their offering to be sent to
Jerusalem. Paul says, they need no more recommendation than the fact
that I sent them, and that they, too, are messengers of the churches.
They are pleasing unto Christ in their ministry.

     II Corinthians 8:24 "Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the
churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf."

     It seems that Paul had been bragging about the church at Corinth
and their generosity. Paul is saying, prove to all of them that it was
not boasting, but the statement of fact.
                     ll Corinthians 10 Questions


1.  What is Paul bringing to their attention in verse 1?
2.  What are the two Macedonian churches the author is familiar with?
3.  What was the financial condition of the people of the Macedonian
    churches?
4.  What was Paul bragging on them about? Where was the church in
    Philippi started?
5.  Where were these donations going to be used?
6.  The power, in verse 3, is what power?
7.  Who had they wanted to be in charge of the gift?
8.  The giving at the churches in Macedonia could be compared to who?
9.  Who had Paul sent to Corinth to receive the offering?
10. Name the various things, we see in verse 7, they abound in.
11. Was Paul commanding the church to give? Explain.
12. What belongs to Jesus?
13. When was one instance the Lord Jesus used His power to pay a bill?
14. How much were they to give?
15. He that gathered much had _______ left over.
16. Was Titus forced to go to Corinth?
17. Why was it important for the ministers to go by twos?
18. Why had Paul not handled this offering personally?
19. Who did Paul have great trust in?
20. What recommendation did Titus have?
21. Who had Paul been bragging about to the Macedonians?