II Corinthians
Chapter
8
1~~Now
{de}, brethren,
we
keep on communicating
the
grace of God
having
been given,
in
the past with results that go on forever,
by
means of the churches of Macedonia.
{a great offering given by Macedonia churches to the Jerusalem
destitute believers}
{Note: 'De' is Greek particle that is not really translated - it is Greek syntax meaning 'change of subject'.}
{Note: Per RBT, this section of II Corinthians is very elliptical and difficult Greek to translate smoothly into English.}
{Principal
of GRACE GIVING - Mental Attitude NOT the amount donated}
2~~That
in the sphere of much testing of pressure
for
the purpose of approval . . .
the
super abundance of their happiness {+H} . . .
and
their deep down poverty . . .
'Super
Abounded'
because
of the riches of their generosity.
{mental attitude of giving in grace}
{Note: The Macedonians were under great poverty themselves but gave generously - they gave money by grace . . . but grace remained with them forever and ever and they shared the happiness of God.}
{Principal
of GRACE GIVING -motivation behind giving - Free Will}
3~~That,
according
to the standard of their ability,
I
keep on testifying {says Paul} . . .
and
beyond their ability
{to give} . . .
willingly
. . . and voluntarily . . . from their own free will . . .
{Note:
Any coercion to give is evil. Just as in the right man/right woman
relationship, you must have soul rapport BEFORE
giving
. . . then the physical act will be right. Giving is a demonstration
of your love relationship with God - and there must
be
soul rapport before the giving takes place.}
{Principal
of GRACE GIVING - Giving is a privilege associated with Grace}
4~~
with much imploring . . .
kept
on begging us
{Paul and his team}
the
favor/grace
and
the partnership
in
the ministry to the saints . . .
{Note: By contributing to the ministry of Paul, the Macedonians became partners with Paul in his ministering to the saints.}
{Principal
of GRACE GIVING - it is a soul function}
5~~
and not even as we expected,
but
they gave of themselves and only themselves . . . first
{the inner person -soul}
to
the Lord,
and
then to us
through
the plan/purpose/design of God . . .
{Note: IMPORTANT PRINCIPAL IN GRACE GIVING!!!!! Must be SOUL GIVING first. You must give of yourself FIRST . . . then money. Money is secondary . . . always . . . it is not the amount that is important!}
{Application
of Grace Giving - message about Macedonians applied to Corinthians}
6~~with
the result that
we
requested Titus,
that
even as he had begun
{indicative mood}
on
a previous occasion,
so
also he would complete
{subjunctive
mood - maybe will, maybe not -
complete the offering started earlier}
with
reference to you
this
grace also.
{giving must always be by grace}
{Note: Giving is a test of grace - not a test of your financial situation. It is a measurement of your spiritual maturity. Titus had left the Corinthians in a good status of Grace. This verse implies Paul does not know their current status today - are they still in grace?}
{Principal of GRACE GIVING - giving is an extension of the daily function of GAP}
7~~Moreover,
just
as you superabound
{perisseuo- indicative mood}
in
the sphere of every thing
{5 listed and NONE relate to money}:
in
the sphere of 'Pistis'
{Pistis - that which is believed -
the inhale of bible doctrine - GAP} . . .
in
the sphere of 'Logos'
{hearing doctrine/'The Word' taught aloud} . . .
and
in the sphere of 'gnosis'
{doctrine heard and understood - knowledge} . . .
and
in the sphere of 'spoude'
{application - doctrine accepted become
usable epignosis - as evidenced by its application here} . . .
and
in the sphere of your 'agape' love
{results of applying epignosis doctrine}
from
you to us . . .
with
the result that
also
in the sphere of this grace
{grace giving}
you
superabound.
{perisseuo - subjunctive mood}
{Note: The Superabounding of the every thing is in the indicative mood - a reality. The Superabounding of Grace Giving is placed in the subjunctive mood here -a potentiality. The Superabounding of Grace Giving comes only AFTER you are spiritually mature. Maybe you will, maybe you will not!}
{Principal
of GRACE GIVING - Giving must never be forced, coerced or 'commanded'.}
8~~I
keep on communicating categorically
not
according to the norm or standard of commandment,
but
through diligent application of others {the Macedonians} . . .
testing the genuineness of your love.
{Note: The Word of God does NOT command Giving. It must be done as a result of divine viewpoint in your mentality. 'Tithing' in the Old Testament was an income tax to all Jews - believers and unbelievers alike. Offerings were from believers only - no pressure or strings.}
{Principal
of GRACE GIVING - Giving depends on grace orientation which depends
on the intake of doctrine. Verses 9-11}
9~~Now
you know from the experience of study
{ginosko} . . .
the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .
that
He . . . being wealth
{in all eternity past as deity} . . .
because
of you all
{as a substitute for all mankind}
became
extremely poor
{3 hours on the cross as He was being judged for our sins} . . .
that
you all,
by
means of the poverty of Him,
might
become rich.
{salvation}
{Note: Jesus voluntarily gave of Himself on the cross as a substitute for us. His grace sacrifice is our example for all grace giving.}
10~~
And in this I give {didomi}
my
opinion based on doctrine . . .
for
this {my opinion} is profitable for you . . .
who
not only 'to do'
but
also 'to desire'
that
which you began from last year.
{their grace giving}
11~~
Now also . . .
finish
doing it!
{Paul's advice - finish what they started}
In
order that
just
as positive volition to will
{to give} . . .
so
also to complete . . .
out
from having.
{give out from what you possess from God}
{Note: You always give from what God has given you. If you go rob a bank and give the proceeds to the Church, this is not a grace gift.}
12~~For
if there be on hand
positive
volition {to give} based on doctrine
-
and there is -
acceptable
. . .
according
to the norm or standard . . .
if
he has or if he has not.
{Note: VERY IMPORTANT POINT HERE. The important thing is your ATTITUDE when the plate is passed. Even if you can not afford to give, a 'willing mind' means you have given . . . even if you are broke and no money passes hands - GRACE!}
13-14~~For
{the offering is}
not
that other of the same kind men {believers}
be
released from burden {responsibility from giving}
and
you pressurized . . . 14~~
but
out from fairness . . .
your
abundance . . . to their lack . . .
that
their abundance
{of men with spiritual gifts}
also
may be a supply for your want . . .
that
there may come into existence . . . balance.
{Note: Apparently the Corinthians thought this was setting up a precedent where they would foot the whole bill for the Christian World. But, we will see in Chapter 9, that the Corinthians also lack something that the Jerusalem church will supply - intercessory prayer on their behalf. Everyone is a part of the Body of Christ. Some believers are prayer warriors. Others provide time. Others provide money. Each member is to give as God has graced them.}
15~~According
as it is written in the past
with
the result that it stands written forever {Exodus 16:18},
"The
one that . . .
having
gathered much {manna}
had
nothing over.
And he that had gathered little had nothing left over."
{Principal
of GRACE GIVING - money must be properly administered - verses 16-19}
16~~But
Grace to The God . . .
Who
is constantly giving the same intensity of character
on
your behalf into the heart/'right lobe of the soul' of Titus.
{Note: This is referring to the bible doctrine resident in the soul of Titus. Titus is going to lead a team going to Corinth to get them back on track doctrinally. Then they can continue with their offering and Titus's team will administer the offering.}
17~~Because
he {Titus}
welcomed
the exhortation/command {paraklesis}
and
being in a state of more diligence
{mental preparation and motivation} . . .
of
his own spontaneous volition,
he
moved out {toward the objective} . . .
face
to face with you.
{Note: Paraklesis means to receive a command but in the form of allowing volition to be considered - 'Men please turn around' instead of 'ABOUT FACE' . . . but if either is said by a higher ranked officer, it means the same thing.}
18~~And
we sent with him
{sumpempo . . .Titus is in charge}
his
brother {Luke},
whose
applause in the gospel . . .
throughout
all the churches.
{Note: 'Sumpempo' means others going on this mission would be under Titus's command. We know his brother went with him and his brother was well known through out the churches. RBT believes this brother is Luke.}
19~~And
not only {is the brother (Luke) commended} . . .
but
who also was appointed by public vote
{the raising of hands}
under
the authority of the churches
to
travel with us in the sphere of this grace . . .
which
is being administered by us . . .
face
to face with the glory of the same Lord . . .
and
face to face with our willingness of mind.
{Note: Paul realized that his missionary journeys - as is everything in life - are done 'in the sphere of grace'.}
20~~Constantly
avoiding this,
lest
anyone should find fault with us
in
the sphere of handling large sums of money
being
administered under our authority.
21~~Using
forethought to provide for valuable things
{offerings given under grace} . . .
not
only in the sight of the Lord,
but
also in the sight of men.
{Note: ANY contribution ($.01 to 1 billion, etc.) IF given without strings and by your free will, is a 'grace gift', is one of the items that is 'divine good', and is the most valuable of all money in the world. As such it must be administered accurately and honestly.}
{Commendation
to an Unknown brother with the gift of administrations}
22~~
And we have sent with them our brother
{Third man on the trip},
whom
we have tested for approval
many
times in many things . . .
he
being diligent,
but
now he being much more diligent
{started out good but now even better},
by
reason of his great confidence
directed
towards you.
23~~Whether
on behalf of Titus
{leader of the delegation},
my
partner . . .
or
with reference to you,
my
co-workers {the Corinthians} . . .
or
our brethren,
agents
{apostolos} of the churches
{Luke and the Unknown administrator} . . .
glory
of Christ.
{Note: No matter what job you are doing, when it is done under grace, it is all to the glory of Christ.}
24~~Therefore,
in consequence,
demonstrate
to them,
and
before the churches,
the
proof of your love,
and
of our glorying on behalf of you.
{Note: The Corinthians started a great offering to help the Church in Jerusalem a year ago. Somehow the 'love offering' got sidetracked and Titus and his delegation are being sent by Paul to get it back on track. The 'proof of their love', in the context of this section, is the completion of their grace offering and its delivery to the Jerusalem believers . . . who are in great financial need. Titus will see to it that the job is done right.}
**************************************************
Joshua_Sozo™ and Syndein ™ are the Trademarks of Syndein a California DBA of Kenneth Sidley & Associates, Inc., a California Corporation. All rights reserved.
Copyright© Syndein 1982-2010. All rights reserved.
This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA, an Orange County California CPA (949) 706-3133. Please call Ken for high quality, low cost CPA services in Orange County California. This includes audit, review, compilation, tax returns, Quickbooks, and business consulting services.
This page is sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living. Moxxor is a highly concentrated Omega 3 product that has reduced inflammation in this writer. Please go to this website to read more about Moxxor.
|
|
|
|
