Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;
4 sermons cite this verse
… 2 Corinthians 8.1. He says, we want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia. That was a whole bunch of churches in northern Greece that Paul had planted. By the way, books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians are written to these churches that Paul refers to here. Verse 2, he says, The grace that was in them for a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy, and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means. In fact, they gave beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints. First, Paul says, these Macedonian churches were not wealthy. In fact, verse two, they themselves were in extreme poverty. By the way, the Greek word he used there for extreme means as deep as the ocean. They weren't just poor, they were poor. You know, they couldn't even afford the last OR. …
… northern part, and he's using the Macedonians as an illustration for how the Corinthians ought to act. okay that's what's going on we want you to know brothers about the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia that's Thessalonica Philippi the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia because in a severe test of affliction their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. And then later on in verse 8, he calls that overflow of generosity love. So my question is, where does love come from in this text? How did love come about? How did it happen that these Macedonians were suddenly eager to help the poor in Jerusalem? They didn't even know these people. And they're asking for a second offering to be taken. That's what it actually says in the next verse. They're begging for the privilege to participate in another offering for the poor. What is going on? …
… scripture teach us to give what we're going to do is we're going to read two passages one in chapter 8 and one in chapter 9 and basically the first one 2 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 1 through 9 is an example. Paul points to these churches in Macedonia. We're going to see him kind of lift them up as an example. And the second passage we're going to look at is 2 Corinthians chapter 9, verse 6 through 15. And what this is over here is basically some truths based on this example. So we're going to be all over the place going back and forth, just turning between these two chapters. But to try to get this picture, let's camp out on these two passages. 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 1. Paul writes, service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, and knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us, Okay, go over to the next chapter. …
… And he's referring to their generosity here as he writes the Corinthians, and he says in verse 1 of chapter 8, Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord. It was their idea. They took the initiative. Begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints. And this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. Consequently, we urge Titus, that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. That is, that they also in the Corinthian church might be as generous and as obedient as they were in the churches in Macedonia. …