2 Coríntios 8

2 Coríntios 8

Cole - Tithing can foster the notion that you give ten percent to God and spend 90 percent as you want to. Biblical giving is based on the premise that God owns 100 percent; you manage it for Him and someday will give an account for what you did with His resources. Underlying the concept of biblical giving is that you have submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ and that you are committed to furthering His work through His people. The Lord isn’t after your money; He’s after you! But He knows that you are so tied to your money, that He really doesn’t have you until He has your money. So in order to follow Him, you’ve got to sign everything over to Him (Luke 12:33; 14:33). (Sermon) Brian Bell - When you give yourself totally over to the Lord, you’re offering your “time, talents, & treasures”(lock, stock, & barrel)(the whole 9 yards - source)(the whole enchilada!) ILLUSTRATION - After a great gathering of Christian youth, the offering was being counted. At the bottom of the offering, the counters found a picture of a teenage girl. They all made the same immediate assumption. Some boy had taken a girl's wallet, taken out the picture and thrown it in the offering basket as a practical joke. That's the kind of thing teenagers sometimes do. Then someone turned the picture over. There was something written on the back. "I have nothing to give, but I give myself." If you have an open heart, you’ll have an open hand! Be assured…If you have a problem giving with a tight fist…your problem is deeper then your wallet! (Put your money where your mouth WAS ) One could sum up the generous giving of the Macedonians - (1) sacrificially, (2) willingly, (3) eagerly, and (4) spiritually (first gave themselves). THOUGHT - Beloved we have to go no further than this great passage to discover the secret of generous giving. First we willingly give ourselves to the Lord. Generous giving will be the supernatural outflow from hearts in such communion and fellowship with the Greatest Giver in all eternity! Expected (1679) elpizo from elpis = hope) means to look forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial. To express desire for some good with the expectation of obtaining it. First (4413)(protos) 1) first in time or place 1a) in any succession of things or persons 2) first in rank 2a) influence, honour 2b) chief 2c) principal 3) first, at the first Lord (master, owner)(2962) kurios from kuros = might or power, related to kuroo = to give authority) primarily means the possessor (and disposer), owner (one who has control of the person), master, the supreme one, one who is sovereign (e.g., Roman emperors - Acts 25:26+) and possesses absolute authority, absolute ownership rights and uncontested power. Kurios is he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, Uses in Corinthians - 1 Co. 1:2; 1 Co. 1:3; 1 Co. 1:7; 1 Co. 1:8; 1 Co. 1:9; 1 Co. 1:10; 1 Co. 1:31; 1 Co. 2:8; 1 Co. 2:16; 1 Co. 3:5; 1 Co. 3:20; 1 Co. 4:4; 1 Co. 4:5; 1 Co. 4:17; 1 Co. 4:19; 1 Co. 5:4; 1 Co. 5:5; 1 Co. 6:11; 1 Co. 6:13; 1 Co. 6:14; 1 Co. 6:17; 1 Co. 7:10; 1 Co. 7:12; 1 Co. 7:17; 1 Co. 7:22; 1 Co. 7:25; 1 Co. 7:32; 1 Co. 7:34; 1 Co. 7:35; 1 Co. 7:39; 1 Co. 8:5; 1 Co. 8:6; 1 Co. 9:1; 1 Co. 9:2; 1 Co. 9:5; 1 Co. 9:14; 1 Co. 10:21; 1 Co. 10:22; 1 Co. 10:26; 1 Co. 10:28; 1 Co. 11:11; 1 Co. 11:23; 1 Co. 11:26; 1 Co. 11:27; 1 Co. 11:29; 1 Co. 11:32; 1 Co. 12:3; 1 Co. 12:5; 1 Co. 14:21; 1 Co. 14:37; 1 Co. 15:31; 1 Co. 15:47; 1 Co. 15:57; 1 Co. 15:58; 1 Co. 16:7; 1 Co. 16:10; 1 Co. 16:19; 1 Co. 16:22; 1 Co. 16:23; 2 Co. 1:2; 2 Co. 1:3; 2 Co. 1:14; 2 Co. 2:12; 2 Co. 3:16; 2 Co. 3:17; 2 Co. 3:18; 2 Co. 4:5; 2 Co. 4:10; 2 Co. 4:14; 2 Co. 5:6; 2 Co. 5:8; 2 Co. 5:11; 2 Co. 6:17; 2 Co. 6:18; 2 Co. 8:5; 2 Co. 8:9; 2 Co. 8:19; 2 Co. 8:21; 2 Co. 10:8; 2 Co. 10:17; 2 Co. 10:18; 2 Co. 11:17; 2 Co. 11:31; 2 Co. 12:1; 2 Co. 12:8; 2 Co. 13:10; 2 Co. 13:14 Will (2307) thelema from thelo = to will with the "-ma" suffix indicating the result of the will = "a thing willed") generally speaks of the result of what one has decided. In its most basic form, thelema refers to a wish, a strong desire, and the willing of some event. In reference to God's will, it signifies His gracious disposition toward something. Used to designate what God Himself does of His own good pleasure. Most of the NT uses of thelema (over 3/4's) refer to God's will and signify His gracious disposition toward something. God's will usually refers to what He has decreed, but occasionally God's will refers to what He desires but has not decreed (Mt 18:14). 2 Corinthians 8:6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. Amplified So much so that we have urged Titus that as he began it, he should also complete this beneficent and gracious contribution among you [the church at Corinth]. KJV 2 Corinthians 8:6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. NET 2 Corinthians 8:6 Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you. BGT 2 Corinthians 8:6 εἰς τὸ παρακαλέσαι ἡμᾶς Τίτον, ἵνα καθὼς προενήρξατο οὕτως καὶ ἐπιτελέσῃ εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ τὴν χάριν ταύτην. NLT 2 Corinthians 8:6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. ESV 2 Corinthians 8:6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. NIV 2 Corinthians 8:6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. YLT 2 Corinthians 8:6 so that we exhorted Titus, that, according as he did begin before, so also he may finish to you also this favour, ASV 2 Corinthians 8:6 Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also. CSB 2 Corinthians 8:6 So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. MIT 2 Corinthians 8:6 In regard to this issue, we urged Titus to complete among you what he had already begun relative to this grace expressed in giving. NKJ 2 Corinthians 8:6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. NRS 2 Corinthians 8:6 so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. NAB 2 Corinthians 8:6 so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun, he should also complete for you this gracious act also. NJB 2 Corinthians 8:6 In the end we urged Titus, since he had already made a beginning, also to bring this work of generosity to completion among you. GWN 2 Corinthians 8:6 This led us to urge Titus to finish his work of God's kindness among you in the same way as he had already started it. BBE 2 Corinthians 8:6 So that we made a request to Titus that, as he had made a start before, so he might make this grace complete in you. So we urged Titus: 2Co 8:16,17 2Co 12:18 complete in you this gracious work 2Co 8:4,19 2Co 9:5 Php 4:18 1Pe 4:10 2 Corinthians 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FINISHING THE ACT OF GRACE While the Corinthians had been instructed regarding collections (1Co 16:1-3+), their "good intentions" (made a beginning) had not translated into tangible spiritual fruit, so Paul had sent Titus to do a little spiritual motivating, not by coercion but by encouragement. They started strong, but fizzled fast. In chapter 8 are the same directions Paul had given the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 16:2, but they had not yet been obeyed. David Lowery has an excellent introduction to this section writing "Whenever possible, Paul preferred to motivate and instruct by deed as well as by words. He did not hesitate to urge the Corinthians and others to imitate his manner of life (cf. 1Co 4:16; 2Co 11:1; 1Th 1:6; 2Th 3:7-9). But he was also quick to point to other worthy examples, including Timothy (1Co 4:17; Php 2:19-20), Epaphroditus (Php 2:25), and of course, Christ (Php 2:5; 1Co 11:1b; 1Th 1:6) and God the Father (Ep 5:1). Paul gave the Corinthians two examples of liberality: the Macedonian churches and Christ. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary So - In light of the example of the amazing word of God's grace in the Macedonian believers, Paul was prompted to speak with Titus. He wants Titus to bring their portion of the contribution to their attention and to finish the gracious work that had begun in them. The Living Bible -- They (MACEDONIANS) were so enthusiastic about it that we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to visit you (CORINTHIANS) and encourage you to complete your share in this ministry of giving. We urged (encouraged - parakaleo) Titus that as he had previously made a beginning (proenarchomai - started the collection before), so he would also complete (bring to the goal - epiteleo - used as a command in 2Co 8:11+) in you this gracious work (charis) as well - The work in them was a manifestation of the supernatural work of God's grace in their heart making them gracious or generous givers. The question arises as to why the beginning (When? This is uncertain but possibly after Titus had taken the either the "severe letter" or the previous letter - cf 1Co 16:1-3+) had not yet been brought to an end? Paul is silent but one consideration is that there were false apostles in Corinth and like modern day prosperity preachers they were spiritual leeches diverting funds from the needy poor to line their greedy pockets. Recall that Paul refused to accept support which was a sore point with the Corinthian church (2Co 11:7-12; 12:13-18). Urged (3870) parakaleo from para = side of, alongside, beside + kaleo = call) means literally to call one alongside, to call someone to oneself, to call for, to summon. Parakaleo can include the idea of giving help or aid but the primary sense in the NT is to urge someone to take some action, especially some ethical course of action. Sometimes the word means convey the idea of comfort, sometimes of exhortation but always at the root there is the idea of enabling a person to meet some difficult situation with confidence and with gallantry. Uses in the Corinthian letters (note 3 uses in 2Co 7) - 1Co. 1:10; 1Co. 4:13; 1Co. 4:16; 1Co. 14:31; 1Co. 16:12; 1Co. 16:15; 2Co. 1:4; 2Co. 1:6; 2Co. 2:7; 2Co. 2:8; 2Co. 5:20; 2Co. 6:1; 2Co. 7:6; 2Co. 7:7; 2Co. 7:13; 2Co. 8:6; 2Co. 9:5; 2Co. 10:1; 2Co. 12:8; 2Co. 12:18; 2Co. 13:11 Previously made a beginning (4278)(proenarchomai from pro = before + enarchomai = to begin, to make a beginning) means to begin beforehand. It refers to beginning at some past time. To begin something previously. Only found in 2Co 8:6 and 2Co 8:10. Complete (2005) epiteleo from epí = intensifies meaning, in the sense of meaning "fully" + teleo = to complete, bring not just to the end but to the destined goal from télos = end, goal) means to bring something to the place where it is complete. Epiteleo conveys the intensified meaning to fully reach the intended goal in the sense of successfully completing what has been begun (Gal 3:3, Ro 15:28+, Php 1:6+). Related Resources: Who was Titus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Questions about Titus | GotQuestions.org 2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. Amplified Now as you abound and excel and are at the front in everything—in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us—[see to it that you come to the front now and] abound and excel in this gracious work [of almsgiving] also. KJV 2 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. NET 2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you excel in everything– in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you– make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. BGT 2 Corinthians 8:7 Ἀλλ᾽ ὥσπερ ἐν παντὶ περισσεύετε, πίστει καὶ λόγῳ καὶ γνώσει καὶ πάσῃ σπουδῇ καὶ τῇ ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ, ἵνα καὶ ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ χάριτι περισσεύητε. NLT 2 Corinthians 8:7 Since you excel in so many ways-- in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us-- I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. ESV 2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you-- see that you excel in this act of grace also. NIV 2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. YLT 2 Corinthians 8:7 but even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound; ASV 2 Corinthians 8:7 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. CSB 2 Corinthians 8:7 Now as you excel in everything-- faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us-- excel also in this grace. MIT 2 Corinthians 8:7 Nevertheless, just as you excel in everything— in faith, and reason, and knowledge, and in all responsiveness, and in the love from us reflected in you, so in this gracious project you also should excel. NKJ 2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you abound in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us-- see that you abound in this grace also. NRS 2 Corinthians 8:7 Now as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you-- so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. NAB 2 Corinthians 8:7 Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also. NJB 2 Corinthians 8:7 More, as you are rich in everything-faith, eloquence, understanding, concern for everything, and love for us too -- then make sure that you excel in this work of generosity too. GWN 2 Corinthians 8:7 Indeed, the more your faith, your ability to speak, your knowledge, your dedication, and your love for us increase, the more we want you to participate in this work of God's kindness. BBE 2 Corinthians 8:7 And that as you are full of every good thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way. But just as you abound in everything: Ro 15:14 1Co 1:5 4:7 12:13 14:12 Rev 3:17 in faith and utterance: 1Co 13:2 and knowledge and in all earnestness: 1Co 8:1,2 13:8 and in the love we inspired in you: 2Co 7:7 see that you abound : 2Co 9:8 Php 1:9,11 1Th 4:9,10 2Th 1:3 1Pe 1:22 2Pe 1:5-8 in this gracious work also: 2Co 8:6 9:14 Eph 4:29 2Ti 2:1 Heb 12:28 2Pe 3:18 2 Corinthians 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Corinthians 7:4; 16+ Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.....16 I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you. 2 Corinthians 9:8+ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 1 Corinthians 1:4-5; 7-8+ (CORINTH A GIFTED CHURCH) I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech (logos) and all knowledge (gnosis) ...7-8 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 Who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 7:7; 11-12+ (EARNESTNESS OF THE CORINTHIANS) and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal (zelos) for me; so that I rejoiced even more....11-12 For behold what earnestness (spoude) this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness (spoude) on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. A CHURCH "OUT OF BALANCE!" Brian Bell - one loose spoke can throw a whole wheel off! (Put your money where your mouth WAS ) But just as you (present tense - continually) abound (perisseuo - excel, are rich) in everything, in faith (pistis) and utterance (logos) and knowledge (gnosis) and in all earnestness (spoude) and in the love (agape) we inspired in you - Abound (key word - 2Co 8:2, 7, 9:8, 12) in everything indicates the saints at Corinth were not financially strapped like the saints in Macedonia and thus it should make them also willing to contribute. After saying they abound in everything Paul specifies first the spiritual gifts they abounded in - faith...utterance...knowledge. (1Co 1:5, 7-8+). See that you (present tense - continually) abound (perisseuo - excel, are rich) in this gracious work ("grace of giving" - charis) also - Note that the very essence of the word grace (charis) is giving! Paul affirms the giftedness of the Corinthians but as he had written earlier he would "show (them) a still more excellent way" (1Co 12:31), the way of love (1Jn 3:16-18+). Paul exhorts them based on all the grace gifts they have been given, that they should likewise overflow with the grace of giving. In short, they should imitate the Macedonians and like them overflow (perisseuo) in the wealth of their liberality (2Co 8:2+). In Romans 12:8+ Paul reaffirmed that the goal of our giving should be generous giving writing "he who gives with liberality (haplotes)." THOUGHT- When we give generously, we in effect "imitate" God! John writes "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (NOW HE GIVES A TANGIBLE EXAMPLE OF LAYING DOWN OUR LIVES FOR OTHERS - GENEROUS GIVING) But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." (1Jn 3:16-18+). Murray Harris - By using the word charis ("grace") of the virtue of giving (NIV, "grace of giving,"), he makes it clear that generosity stands alongside faith, speech, knowledge, and love as an expression of divine grace in man (2Co 8:7). Already excelling in Christian virtues and gifts of the Spirit, the Corinthians were to make sure they exhibited the grace of liberality as well. (1 and 2 Corinthians The Expositor's Bible Commentary) MacArthur sums up this exhortation - The giving of the Corinthians was to be in harmony with other Christian virtues that Paul already recognized in them: "faith"—sanctifying trust in the Lord; "utterance"—sound doctrine; "knowledge"—the application of doctrine; "earnestness"—eagerness and spiritual passion; and "love"—the love of choice, inspired by their leaders. (MacArthur Study Bible) Warren