Overview of 2 Corinthians 8:1-10:18
2 Corinthians is one of Paul’s “harder” letters due to the obscurity of its contextual history. There are many details of which the reader is left to speculate.
Major theme of 2 Corinthians: Paul’s legitimacy and authority. Both are being attacked by a group of false teachers, though we don’t know the exact nature of their heresy. They were taking Paul’s sacrificial lifestyle and “weak” methods as proof that his ministry was fraudulent. Though, as he extrapolated in both 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:4 and 2 Corinthians 5, nothing could be further from the truth. It was through his weakness that God’s sufficient power and strength were made perfect (2 Cor. 12:7-10). There seems to be a radically break between chapters 7 and 8.
The focus of chapters 8 and 9 is the “relief” offering that he is collecting for the saints in Jerusalem.
How are 2 Corinthians 8-9 connected to the rest of the letter?
It is notable to see the shift in tone from chapters 1-7 to chapters 8-9.
For example, chapters 1-7 are very apologetic in tone; Paul making a defense for the credibility of his ministry.
Chapters 8-9, however, shift to exhortation – as he is trying to get the Corinthians to respond and to give to the collection.
Some scholars claim that chapters 8 and 9 once functioned as separate administrative letters for organizing the collection and were later added to 2 Corinthians as a whole. Others, however, see them as continuous. Γαρ (9:1) is a subordinate word and in this instance, refers back to 8:24 and Paul’s concluding “therefore”. Also – In 9.1, the collection is described as, the “ministry/service of the saints”, precisely the same phrase used to introduce the topic of the collection in 8.4. It is my position that these two chapters are to be understood as original to the letter and that, while Paul does address a new topic, it correlates to the defense of his ministry as a whole.
What was the gift?
The Jerusalem gift was first mentioned in Acts 11:27-30 – Paul and his associates took from Antioch to Jerusalem a gift for their relief from the famine. While we have enough in the Scriptures to describe the fact that this gift took place, we do not have a lot of information about all the details of the gift. Paul describes his commission to take care of the poor in Galatians 2:10. The last (recorded) mention of the gift is found in Romans 15:14-32.
Why did the Jerusalem Christians need food?
The Jerusalem Christians needed food due to persecution, famine, and the collective food sharing of this new church (mentioned in Acts 2). This wasn’t unique to Jerusalem. Much of the ancient world lived hand-to-mouth with only a day’s subsistence. This also explains the reciprocal nature of Paul’s gift as he presumed the Corinthians, one day, would need help as well.
While the key objective for Paul was to alleviate the needs of the saints in Jerusalem, there were other purposes it served as well. All the reasons are as follows:
- Relief to Jerusalem saints
- Making good on his promise to remember the poor in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:10).
- A tangible expression of the unity between Jew and Gentile in Christ
- Strengthen ties between the Gentile churches spread throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. The collection seems to have been one of the few events in the life of the early church in which several churches from diverse parts of the Roman empire participated together.
- Fulfillment of O.T. – Gentiles bringing gifts to Zion (Isaiah 2:1-5; 60:5-14; 66:28-20) – though this is often translated eschatologically.
One scholar (Georgi) calls this endeavor an “illustrative model of his theology.”
It is also important to note that the Corinthian church seems to be one of the more wealthy churches in the modern world. This is the irony, since the church with the most money seems not to be the one giving the most.
Chapters 8-9 are inextricably linked to mission. Not only are humans to pay the cost of their lives in getting the gospel to the ends of the earth, but this should have an effect on their pocket books as well. All Christians are called to play some role in funding the work of the Great Commission.
How do I “use” these chapters?
While we can learn general giving principles in chapters 8-9, it is best to see the generosity here as something “above and beyond” their normal weekly giving. Paul asked them to set aside a special gift in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, which speaks of something other than the normal financial offerings within the life of the congregation.
Therefore, be cautious in using these chapters to teach tithing, or regular monthly giving. We can learn principles such as giving “proportionally, voluntarily, etc.” but hold as tightly as you can to the author’s intent when re-presenting these chapters to your modern day church.
What is the overall structure of 2 Cor. 8:1-10:18?
- 8:1-6 – Example of the Macedonians
- 8:7-15 – An exhortation to the Corinthians to finish what they started (motivations to give)
- 7-9 – Excel in this gracious work – based on the finished work of Christ.
- 10-12 – Paul’s advice – finish, according to what you have.
- 13-15 – the ultimate goal of giving between churches is that there is equality. A mutual love and unity should exist when churches help one another.
- 8:16-24 – Paul’s commendation of those collecting the offering (integrity and accountability)
- 19, 23 – a specific mention of the glory of the Lord, Christ.
- 9:1-5 – The boasting of the Corinthians (in their readiness to complete what was begun a yearago).
- 9:6-15 – Be generous
- 1-5 – practical reasons to give
- 6-14 – theological reasons to give
- 15 – God’s indescribable gift
- 10:1-6 -Christian Warfare
- 10:7-18 – Paul’s Self-Vindication
- 7-11 – Confronting Unfair Criticism
- 12-18 – The boast of Paul’s ministry
There are a variety of way to divide these three chapters. The key is to identity the main imperatives (Ch. 8-9) and to include them in formulating one’s homiletical structure.
Key Imperatives:
- 8:1-15 – Excel (v. 7) – Abound in Generosity
- Finish (v. 11) – The preparation and planning of giving
- 8:16-24 – Prove (v. 24) – The integrity of giving
- 9:1-15 – Let each give (v. 7) – All believers are to be generous
Two Homiletical Structures (Sample Sermon Outlines)
Sermon 1: Irrational Generosity (Chapter 8:1-11)
Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to emulate the irrational generosity of the Macedonians and, thus, finish what they started. Do not merely think you are generous; be generous.
Big Idea: Excel in Irrational Generosity (v. 7)
To excel is to abound, to give above and beyond, to do more than is required.
What is Generosity? To be single-minded in our giving and in our sharing.
Generosity is not an attitude – it’s an action. We “get” to give!
By irrational we mean actions that do not make sense to a watching, unsaved world.
4 Irrational Behaviors of Generosity (8:2-4)
- Joy in Affliction (2a) – under persecution (Philippi promised this). Christians should be happy/joyous people.
- Wealth in Poverty (2b) – Romans plundered Greece. Poor but “rich”.
- Beyond Ability (3) – God did more ILL – Widow’s Mite (Mark 12:41-44 – she has inspired billions of dollars of giving)
- Begging to Give (4) – δεομαι (prayer) – begging/urgent/privilege
8:5-8:6 – Order of giving is crucial – First to the Lord! We give first and foremost to the Lord – not church, ministry, need. Heart Issue.
2 Reasons to Excel in Giving (8:8-9)
- Generosity is a Test of Your True Love: 8:8 (cf. 1 John 3:17; 1 Cor. 13:3).
- Generosity is a Test of Your True Wealth: 8:9 (cf. Phil. 2:5-11).
The biggest obstacle to our giving is not a lack of money, but a lack of contentment. We are not content with who we are in Christ!
How to Grow in Generosity
- Receive the Generous gift of Jesus Christ – all about the heart.
- Take Control of Your Finances
- “A budget is telling your money where to go; not wondering where it went.” – John Maxwell
- Start Small – start by giving from what you have; not what you do not have.
- Start Young – Model, talk about and teach kids
Sermon 2: Give More, Get More (2 Corinthians 9:1-15)
Big Idea: Generosity is not something God wants from you, but FOR YOU!
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” When we give, we are blessed.
Though this passage is often abused to mean that we are promised health, wealth, riches, comfort, and fame, we cannot deny that there are spiritual blessings promised to God’s children when we give.
4 Generous Gifts
- A Happy Heart (v. 7)
- Financial Sufficiency (v. 8-9)
- Yet again we see a strong connection between “grace” and “giving.” God is able to make all grace overflow/abound. God rewards are giving with spiritual and material blessings.
- An Opportunity to Bless God and Others (v. 10-12)
- We are blessed in order to be a blessing; to God and to others.
- A connection is made. In the same way that God provides our basic needs: seed, bread, He will also multiply our seed for sowing (this, in context, is material wealth).
- Enriched for all liberality (ἁπλότης) – lit. “not folded; “singleness, without folds, like a piece of cloth unfolded“. We are enriched so that we have a courage, single-minded heart that gets and gives with the right motivation.
- Notice why God gives us wealth.
- First, so that we can thank God. Second, so that we can provide blessings to others.
- Unity and Growth in the Body of Christ (v. 13-15)
- Connect this back to the reciprocal connection between the Jerusalem Church and the Corinthian Church. Paul sees all of this going together eschatologically.
- 13 – contribution – koinonia – sharing in/partnership with
- 15 – The GOSPEL
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
The gift of Christ fuels our giving for Christ! Note the progression. Starts with the individual heart and ends with the building up of the entire body of Christ.
Key Resources
Kruse, Colin G. 2 Corinthians. Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament. Nashville, TN, B&H Academic, 2020.
Witherington III, Ben. Conflict & Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1995.
Barrett, C.K. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians: Black’s New Testament Commentary. London, UK: A&C Black, 1973.
Brown, Peter. Through the Eye of a Needle. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Press, 2014.
