2 Corinthians 8:1

2 Corinthians 8:1

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

a. NLT: Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[fn] what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.

b. NIV: And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

c. YLT: And we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: We want to tell you further, brethren, about the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [arousing in them the desire to give alms];

e. Worrell Translation: A we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God which has been  bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia.

f. Wuest Translation: Moreover, we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God which has been given among the churches of Macedonia.

1. “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God…”

a. Moreover [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. brethren [Strong: 80 adephos ad-el-fos' from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1):--brother.]

c. we do…to wit [Strong: 1107 gnorizo gno-rid'-zo from a derivative of 1097; to make known; subjectively, to know:--certify, declare, make known, give to understand, do to wit, wot.]

d. you [Strong: 5213 humin hoo-min' irregular dative case of 5210; to (with or by) you:--ye, you, your(-selves).]

e. of the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

f. grace [Strong: 5485 charis khar'-ece from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):--acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).]

g. of God [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

2. “…bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;”

a. bestowed [Strong: 1325 didomi did'-o-mee a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.]

b. on [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

c. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. churches [Strong: 1577 ekklesia ek-klay-see'-ah from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church.]

e. of Macedonia [Strong: 3109 Makedonia mak-ed-on-ee'-ah from 3110; Macedonia, a region of Greece:--Macedonia.]

1). This is a very powerful passage beginning with this verse. Paul is describing the grace of God, in particular the grace of giving, that was bestowed upon the churches of Macedonia by God. These churches were in the midst of “deep poverty”. Yet God Almighty gave to them the grace, that aroused in them the desire to give to Paul’s ministry. The text goes on to say they had to beg Paul to receive their offering because at first he would not receive it because of their poverty.

a). 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 [Amplified Classic] We want to tell you further, brethren, about the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [arousing in them the desire to give alms];

8:2 For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty [together] have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part.

8:3 For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily,

8:4 Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].

8:5 Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution] that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of God [entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God]—

2). I am reminded of an incident in Jesus ministry where Jesus was watching the people giving their gifts to the treasury a poor widow gave all that she had. Jesus did not run to her and say “No sweetie you go ahead and keep those two mites, you need it more than the temple.”

a). Luke 21:1-4 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

3). He did not do that because He knew what the word says about giving and receiving, about God being our source, and God’s desire to bless the poor and raising them out of the dust and the dunghill and setting them amomg the leaders of the nation. Hallelujah!

a). Psalm 113:5-8 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,

113:6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

113:7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

113:8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.