8:1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the
grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and
beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we
would receive the gift, and take upon
us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this
they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord,
and unto us by the will of God. 6
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also
finish in you the same grace also.
To wit means that you are about to describe something more
fully or in this case to make known or to declare something. Here, Paul says he
wants to relate to the Corinthians what is happening with the churches in
Macedonia.
Paul refers to the generosity of the churches in the Roman
province of Macedonia, which included the churches in the cities of Philippi,
Thessalonica, and Berea among others, in spite of the great persecution and
poverty they suffered themselves, to spark the Corinthians into giving more for
the care of other churches in places less fortunate. This is the beginning of a
plea Paul makes for churches to help each other in their struggle to survive,
the temptation to abandon the faith that came in the guise of famine, poverty,
and persecution.
Paul is hoping that Corinth will follow suit and be generous of
their substance as the churches in Macedonia have done and he is about to give
a lesson in Christian economics.
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