Biblion Bible Commentary
Read the introduction to 2 Corinthians · About this commentary
The Grace Given in Macedonia
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, · WEB
The fundraising begins with a report about poorer congregations who had to be allowed to give, and every step of it is called grace.
The appeal opens without mentioning money. We make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia — and the word is charis, which falls in eighteen verses of this letter with ten of them in these two chapters. What is about to be described as a cash collection is introduced as something God did.
Verse 2 states the arithmetic, and it does not work: in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.
Four terms in one sentence — affliction, joy, deep poverty, riches — and they are not in the pairs anyone would put them in. Poverty is the stated source of the riches, not an obstacle overcome on the way to them.
Verse 3 measures what they gave against what they had: according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord. He corrects his own figure upward mid-sentence. And of their own accord removes him from the transaction — no appeal was made.
Then the detail that inverts the whole situation: begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. The apostle had to be persuaded to accept. The verb is the same begging he uses of his own ministry 2 Corinthians 5:20, now aimed at him by donors who would not be refused.
Verse 5 says what made it possible, and the order is the point: first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. The money followed the person. Paul reports this as not as we had expected — he was surprised, and says so.
So the Macedonians are not held up as an example of generous budgeting. Their giving is presented as the second thing they did.
Verse 7 then turns to Corinth with a list of what they already have — faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us — and adds one item: see that you also abound in this grace. A wealthy congregation is being asked to catch up with a poor one, and the gap is named as a missing item on a list of accomplishments rather than as a failure of compassion.
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