Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of 2 Corinthians
Chapter 8: The Grace of Giving
2 Corinthians 8 teaches generous giving as a grace of God. Paul holds up the churches of Macedonia, who, 'in a great trial of affliction' and 'deep poverty,' gave 'beyond their power,' begging for the privilege, because they 'first gave their own selves to the Lord.' He urges the Corinthians to 'abound in this grace also,' proving 'the sincerity of your love.' And he grounds all giving in the supreme gift: '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.' He asks them to finish what they began, for God accepts a gift 'according to that a man hath,' and to give toward 'equality' among the saints. Throughout, Paul is careful for honesty in handling the money, 'providing for honest things... in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.' The chapter shows us giving as grace, the self-impoverishing love of Christ, and integrity in the work of God.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians chapter 8. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Paul commends the grace of giving shown by the Macedonians, grounds all generosity in the self-giving of Christ, and models integrity in handling the offering. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
The Grace of the Macedonians
Out of deep poverty they gave beyond their power, with joy.
Though Rich, He Became Poor
The grace of Christ, who became poor to make us rich.
A Willing Mind
God accepts the gift according to what a man has, given willingly.
Honest in the Sight of All
Paul guards the offering with scrupulous honesty before God and men.
Though He Was Rich, Yet He Became Poor (2 Corinthians 8:1-9)
The Macedonians' joyful, sacrificial giving flowed from grace; and its pattern is the grace of Christ, who became poor to make us rich.
The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ
"Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 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. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 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. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 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."
Word Study
"grace," Greek charis (χάρις). The word means grace, favor, a free gift; it is the great gospel word for God's unearned kindness. In this chapter Paul uses it for giving itself, calling generosity "the grace of God bestowed on the churches" and "this grace." Christian giving is not first a duty but a grace, a work God's grace produces in a willing heart, and a sharing in God's own generosity. And Paul grounds it in the supreme charis: "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." Here is the whole gospel in one sentence, and the pattern for all giving: the Lord Jesus, who was rich in the glory of God, became poor by taking our flesh and going all the way to the cross, so that we, spiritually bankrupt, might be made rich in Him. The one God, infinitely rich, stooped to poverty in Christ for our sakes. Generosity, then, is simply grace answering grace: those made rich by the self-impoverishing love of Christ give freely to others, as He gave Himself for them.
Explanation
Paul commends "the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia" as a model of giving. In "a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality" — they gave "beyond their power... willingly," begging for the privilege. True generosity, Paul shows, flows not from surplus but from grace, and is measured by joy and willingness, not amount. And its deepest ground is the gospel itself: "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." Christ's self-impoverishing love is the pattern and power of Christian giving.
Gospel Focus
To stir the Corinthians to finish their collection for the poor saints, Paul tells them of "the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia." Their giving was remarkable on every count. It came amid hardship: "in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." They were afflicted and poor, yet joyful and generous, poverty and joy together overflowing in liberality. It was sacrificial: they gave "to their power... yea, and beyond their power." And it was eager: they were "praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift," begging for the privilege of giving. The secret is in verse 5: "first gave their own selves to the Lord." Their generosity flowed from surrender; because they had given themselves to God, giving their money was easy. So Paul urges the Corinthians, who "abound in every thing," in faith, knowledge, and love, to "abound in this grace also." He does not command it, but appeals to "the sincerity of your love." Then he gives the deepest motive of all, the grace of Christ: "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." The Lord Jesus was rich, possessing the glory of God, and He became poor, born in a manger, with nowhere to lay His head, dying stripped on a cross, so that we, poor and bankrupt in sin, might become rich in forgiveness, sonship, and eternal life. That is the pattern and the power of Christian giving: we give because we have been given to, immeasurably, by the Lord who impoverished Himself to enrich us. Generosity is grace flowing from the grace of Christ.
Providing for Honest Things (2 Corinthians 8:10-24)
God accepts the willing gift according to what one has; Paul arranges the offering with careful honesty before God and men.
If There Be First a Willing Mind
"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. 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. 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. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 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: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 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: Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 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. 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. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf."
Word Study
"willing mind," Greek prothumia (προθυμία). The word means eagerness, readiness, a forward and willing spirit. "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 measures a gift not by its size but by the readiness of the heart behind it. The prothumia, the eager willingness, comes first; then the gift follows "out of that which ye have." This liberates the giver: God does not require what one does not have, but delights in what is given willingly from what one does have. The widow's two mites and the wealthy man's large gift are weighed by the same scale, the willing heart. So no believer, however poor, is shut out of the grace of giving, and no gift, however small, is despised if it flows from a ready mind. What God asks is not a certain amount but a willing spirit that gives cheerfully what it can. The gift begins in prothumia, and God accepts it according to that.
Explanation
Paul urges them to finish the collection they began a year earlier, "that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also." God measures the gift by the giver: it is accepted "according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." The aim is "equality," the abundance of some supplying the want of others. And Paul takes elaborate care with the money's handling, sending trusted brothers so that no one could slander the ministry — "providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." Integrity in finances guards the gospel's good name.
Gospel Focus
Paul now gives practical counsel for finishing the collection the Corinthians had begun "a year ago." Good intentions must become action: "as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also." And he sets the heart at rest about how much: "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 asks not for what we lack but for the willing gift of what we have; the eager heart, not the amount, is what He weighs. Paul's aim is not to burden the Corinthians while easing others, but "an equality": those with abundance now supplying those in want, so that "there may be equality" in the family of God, illustrated by the manna, where "he that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack." God's people care for one another so that need is met and no one is crushed. Then Paul turns to the careful, honest handling of the money. He sends Titus, eager of his own accord, along with trusted, well-known brothers "chosen of the churches," so that the offering is "administered... to the glory of the same Lord." His concern for integrity is explicit: "avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." Paul will not handle the church's money alone or without accountability; he takes pains that everything be transparently honest, not only before God, who sees all, but before men, so that no suspicion can fall on the work. This is a vital lesson: those entrusted with God's resources must be scrupulously honest and accountable, guarding the reputation of the gospel. Giving is a grace, measured by the willing heart and given toward the needs of the saints; and the handling of what is given must be as honest as the giving is generous, to the glory of the Lord.
Chapter 8 in Review
2 Corinthians 8 teaches giving as a grace of God. The Macedonian churches, in "deep poverty," gave "beyond their power" with joy, because they "first gave their own selves to the Lord." So Paul urges the Corinthians to "abound in this grace also," proving "the sincerity of your love." He grounds all giving in the grace of Christ: "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." He asks them to finish what they began, assuring them that "if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath," and to give toward "equality" among the saints. And he handles the offering with scrupulous integrity, "providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter reshapes how we think of giving and money. Generosity is not first a duty but a grace God works in surrendered hearts; those who "first gave their own selves to the Lord" give freely of all else. The measure is not the amount but the willing mind; God accepts the eager gift of what we have, so no one is too poor to share in this grace. Its pattern and power is the incarnation itself: the Lord Jesus, rich in the glory of God, became poor for our sakes, that we might be made rich, and grace so received flows out in grace to others. And the handling of God's resources must be as honest as the giving is generous, transparent before God and men, that no blame touch the gospel. Give yourself first to the Lord, then give freely and cheerfully from what you have, in the pattern of Christ who became poor to make you rich, and let all be done in honesty to His glory.
- Giving is "the grace of God," a grace to abound in (8:1, 7).
- Generosity flows from first giving "their own selves to the Lord" (8:5).
- Christ "though he was rich... became poor, that ye... might be rich" (8:9).
- God accepts the gift by "a willing mind," according to what one has (8:12).
- Giving aims at "equality," supplying the needs of the saints (8:14).
- God's resources must be handled with honesty before God and men (8:21).
Questions for Reflection
- Have you "first" given yourself to the Lord, from which all other giving flows?
- How does the grace of Christ, who became poor for you, move you to give?
- Do you give from a "willing mind," cheerfully, according to what you have?
- Is money handled in your church and life with transparent honesty before God and men?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. Giving as grace; the Macedonians' example: 2 Corinthians 8:1-7; Mark 12:41-44; Philippians 4:15-18; Acts 20:35. The grace of Christ, who became poor: 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:5-8; John 1:14; Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58. The willing mind and equality among the saints: 2 Corinthians 8:10-15; Exodus 16:18; Acts 4:34-35; 1 Corinthians 16:2. Integrity in handling the offering: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Romans 12:17; 1 Corinthians 16:3-4; Proverbs 3:4. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- Giving as grace; Christ became poor to make us rich: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9; Philippians 2:5-8; Mark 12:41-44.
- The willing mind and equality among the saints: 2 Corinthians 8:10-15; Exodus 16:18; Acts 4:34-35.
- Honesty in handling the offering: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Romans 12:17; Proverbs 3:4.