ELNORA’S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, 2 Corinthians 8, January 31, 2025
Context for Chapter 8
2 Corinthians 8 follows Paul's expression of comfort and rejoicing at what he learned from Titus. That news explained the Corinthians' repentance in response to Paul's letter of rebuke. Next Paul urges them to follow through on a commitment to contribute to a collection for the suffering Christians in Jerusalem. Having addressed the issue of his painful rebuke of the Corinthians and his joy at their repentance, Paul moves to a new topic: the collection of funds for suffering Christians in Jerusalem. Will they still follow through on their commitment to give? He points to the example of the generous gifts of the poverty-stricken Macedonian churches and asks the Corinthians to prove that their own Christlike love for others is genuine by excelling in this, as well. Titus and two delegates from other churches will come to Corinth to oversee the collection. In chapter 9, Paul will continue to discuss this ministry opportunity.(https://www.bibleref.com/2-Corinthians/8/2-Corinthians-chapter-8.html)
A Call to Generous Giving, Part 1, Verses 1-8, Keisha
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.[b] 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 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. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us[c]—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
1. What can we learn about their attitude in giving?
2. What does it mean that they gave themselves "first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us? (V.5)
3. What was Paul asking the Corinthians to do? (V. 7)
4. Application: How can you approach giving when you do not have a lot to give?
A Call to Generous Giving, Part 2, Verses 9-15, Destiny
9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”
SECTION QUESTIONS:
5. What can we learn from Jesus about generosity?
6. Why might you think it is important for Paul to encourage the Corinthians to continue giving? What do you think could be happening?
7. What is Paul saying in verse 11? ("Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.")
8. Reflection: We are reminded that it is often easier to begin something than to finish it. Every year many people make New Year’s resolutions. For a few days or weeks they start a new plan, perhaps a diet or an exercise routine. But most fail to carry it through and finish it. Christians are sometimes like this as well. We passionately start a new project or mission and fail to carry it through. It could be a Bible reading plan, a prayer schedule, a verse memory goal, an evangelism program, or an outreach project.
9. Application: Can you think of something you started and didn't finish? What did you learn from it?
10. Application: Giving is not compulsory. No one can make you be generous. God wants to see you choose to be generous because of a response to His love for you. In what ways can you choose to be more generous?
Titus and His Companions, Verses 16-24 Teannie
16 But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. 17 Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. 18 We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. 19 He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem[e]—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. 20 We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 21 We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. 22 We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. 23 If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches,[f] and they bring honor to Christ. 24 So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
11. Who is coming with Titus to visit the Corinthians and what has the church leaders said about them?
12. Why do you think Paul took a number of precautions around the collection of offerings?
13. Can you identify some of the precautions mentioned in the passage?
14. Application: Wherever you have influence, use that influence to make sure that money (offerings, tithes, donations, etc.) is handled with transparency. There should be clear processes and guidelines. And there is safety in numbers. For example, one “rule” could be that 3 people are always present when counting the money. In more general terms, we should not give the devil an opportunity to tempt the flesh (Ephesians 4:27, Romans 13:14).
Paul’s ministry model is centered on the team. Some of the benefits of working as a team:
- A team can get much more accomplished than a single person.
- A team can help to pick up a member who falls.
- A team can keep each other accountable.
- A team can exercise positive “peer pressure.”
- A team can act as a safeguard and minimize temptation.
- A team can deflect accusations that could more easily land on one individual.
- A team can have more collective wisdom than one person does.
- A team can act to cover over weaknesses and increase strengths since people would be more free to pursue what they are gifted at.
- A team can help keep each person humble.
- A team can help members learn to cooperate.
- A team can share the load.
Prayer Confession for 2 Corinthians, Chapter 8
“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.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
Loving Lord and Heavenly God, how great is Your grace and love toward me, that You would strip Yourself of all You had and all You were, to live a life of humiliating poverty so that I could be saved from my sins and inherit the riches of eternal life. Praise Your holy name, AMEN.
See Above (2 Corinthians 10-15) Dear Father, it is you who provides seed to the sower and bread for food. Increase our resources and the harvest of righteousness. Make our hearts more like yours so that we are eager and willing to give to others as you have given to us. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/2-Corinthians/8
https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-8-1-/7 https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2corinthians-8-8-15/
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