Chap 9 & 10_ 2 Cor

Chap 9

Chap 9

OOOOOOOOO2 Corinthians 9:1–5(HCSB)

Motivations for Giving ………9 Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. 2 For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: “Achaia has been prepared since last year,” and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation. 5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.

Paul earlier boasted about the generosity of the Macedonians and how Corinth should see or compare their giving attitude to what Macedonia has done in “deep poverty”.

2 Corinthians 8:1–3

(HCSB) 8 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: 2 During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. 3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability,

And he boasts about Corinth and wants the Macedonians to be aware of the giving from Corinthians. And he does this competing comparisons be done openly in the same letter., What a fund raiser Paul is. He has no qualms to do whatever it takes.

Also people identified with their city almost more than their country. They were like city states ant this traditional mindset had been handed down from the Greeks. So there was a distinction, a loyalty, and a pride for the city that you resided in.

Also as part of the comparison, apparently the impoverished city or state of Macedonia generously and accomplished this earlier than Corinth. Also Corinth was the capital of the province of Achaea which was south of the province of Macedonia. Paul is using these factor to urge the Corinthians to just do it!

Note another comparison= the money being raised is for the church in Jerusalem. Here the converted Jews are the backbone of the church and they are being shown the generous giving, the grace of Jesus by a major church comprised of Gentiles.

It is a 3 bagger , Jews are recognizing the Gentile generosity, Macedonia recognizing Corinth, and Corinth being inspired and competing against Macedonia.

He is also uniting the churches and teaching them the joy of giving and caring for each other.

Paul who can teach theological heights and prose is also a very pragmatic. He wants to ensure that the giving is nearing its promised completion which was started a year ago. So for the benefit of the Corinthian church’s honor an auditing team is sent ahead. The team is to make sure that everything is ready, so their won’t be any embarrassing scene of shortage of “generous” [V 5]giving when Paul gets there.

Then Paul goes on to explain about giving for the glory of God. Giving is not just a fund raiser to motivate church participation, he not goes into the heart of the matter. A teaching about applying the grace, compassion of God’s people.

OOOOOOOO

2 Corinthians 9:6–15

(HCSB) 6 Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 9 As it is written:

He scattered;

He gave to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.

10 Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. 13 They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service. 14 And they will have deep affection for you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

OT -attitude for a non-mandatory giving from the OT =

Exodus 25:2

(HCSB)

2 “Tell the Israelites to take an offering for Me. You are to take My offering from everyone who is willing to give.

Ezra 2:68

(HCSB) 68 After they arrived at the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders gave freewill offerings for the house of God in order to have it rebuilt on its original site.

1 Chronicles 29:6

(HCSB) 6 Then the leaders of the households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.

according to his ability

Acts 11:29–30

(HCSB) 29 So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea. 30 They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.

spiritual blessing ...

Psalm 112:9

(HCSB) 9 He distributes freely to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted in honor.

Romans 5:17

(HCSB) 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

for cheerful giving

Proverbs 22:9

(HCSB) 9 A generous person will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

V6 :Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

The act of joyful giving for the glory of God is a key element of the Kingdom- a major distinction between Christianity and other beliefs. As such, it is so important, it is also a key target of Satan. The distortion of these next verses are a point of leverage of hypocrisy within the church. Many non-believers are pushed away from the gospel because of false teachings and behaviors in this area. Teachers and preachers submerge this lie within a large basket of truths, but the poisoned apple within the bunch is there and is sickening the church.

This is no small point, the distortion of the meaning of these verses are doing major harm to the body of Christ and bringing dishonor to the name of Jesus Christ.

One commentator labeled this as the heresy of materialism

sufficiency ....αὐτάρκεια ......V 9:8 always having everything you need, ; subjectively, a mind contented with its lot, contentment: ........hence, a sufficiency of the necessaries of life:

False Doctrine and Human Greed 1 Timothy 6:2–10 (HCSB) Teach and encourage these things. 3 If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, 4 he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is a great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into the world,

and we can take nothing out.

8 But if we have food and clothing,

we will be content with these.

9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (HCSB)9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.

Luke 18:24–25 (HCSB) 24 Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Revelation 3:17–18 (HCSB) 17 Because you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.