2Corinthians 11:16 - 12: 10 comments: God's power shines through our weakness

    11:16 ¶  I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. 17  That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18  Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19  For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20  For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 21  I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

Paul sets up an argument here admonishing the Corinthians who he says would permit false teaching to pollute their faith. He is referring to Judaizers who would try to put the Corinthians back under the Law as we will see.

    11:22 ¶  Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32  In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33  And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

The Judaizers who are trying to put the Corinthians back under the Law have nothing on Paul’s pedigree. He also is a Hebrew, an Israelite. He has suffered a great deal for the gospel. These are his credentials; prison, beatings, shipwrecks, and in grave peril for his life in many places. He barely escaped death in Damascus.

Acts 9:22  But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews

which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

    23 ¶  And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24  But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25  Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down

by the wall in a basket.

   

His argument continues in trying to explain to the Corinthians what he, Paul, has seen….

Chapter 12

12:1 ¶  It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5  Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul had a vision of being caught up to heaven. Could it have happened when he was near death at Lystra as reported in Acts 14:8 through 20? We simply do not know if it was that occasion or perhaps when he was first blinded in his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus as reported in Acts 9.

Paul uses the phrase the third heaven. This would suggest that the first heaven is the atmosphere of earth where life can exist, the second heaven would be our understanding of outer space containing stars and planets, the third heaven would be where God dwells and the origination point of the heavenly New Jerusalem, that giant cube of a city that is at some point headed toward us.

Revelation 21:16  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

It is to there that God has placed Paradise, what we call Abraham’s Bosom from Luke 16:22, and the Tree of Life.

Revelation 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 22:1 ¶  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

It is there that sorrow and suffering end for those who have trusted in God, who have believed His word, and who are depending on Christ’s righteousness and not their own for sanctification and justification before God.

Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Paul can’t talk about it probably because we would not understand it nor would we have any thing on earth to connect it to from our own experience or understanding. It is beyond our comprehension. To explain something we must have some sort of parallel or reference from experience. As Isaiah noted;

Isaiah 64:4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Which Paul paraphrased as;

1Corinthian 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

To keep Paul from getting a swelled head over this privileged experience from God he was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to afflict him. This gives us some suggestion of the origination of disease, at least in some cases. We only see temporal causes; unsanitary conditions, a disease agent, injury, or genetic factors but there is also a spiritual explanation. Here is a reason for suffering that is not linked to Paul’s sin but to his triumph in Christ and to his mission.

What was Paul’s condition? Well, we know that he was blinded on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

Which he was delivered from….

Acts 9: 17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

And yet, he seemed to be plagued with vision problems after that.

Galatians 4:15  Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

He asked three times, thrice, for the Lord to deliver him from his infirmity. But, he received…

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

God’s power shines through us in our disabilities, our weakness, our infirmity, and our inability. It is in these circumstances that our desire for preeminence and to have power over our world is severely diminished and then God shines through our finite, frail vessels. It is a great testimony to the world for them to see God’s power in your frailty.

2Corinthians 11:1-15 comments: Satan transformed into an angel of light

11:1 ¶  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

The Corinthians have followed men rather than God and are easily deceived as Eve was. Paul is warning them that they are far too willing to follow a person preaching false doctrine and far too easily fooled by what those men say. They are like the modern Christian who will not read the Bible themselves but simply believe whatever any so-called ‘man o’ god’ tells them is so. Unlike the Bereans of Acts they will not search the scriptures.

Acts 17:10 ¶  And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The Corinthians were in danger of accepting a corrupted idea of who Jesus was, denying His divinity and the resurrection itself. The Gnostics would remove identification of the man Jesus Christ as the Lord Jesus Christ as is evidenced by many modern translations that remove His name and title from the letter to the Corinthians based on the evidence of their minds and the two Gnostic-inspired manuscripts Sinaiticus and Vaticanus.

Many modern, Christians follow a Jesus who reflects their personal political bigotry, or social fears, or even historical revisionism. They see the Bible through a lens that colors and distorts the image of Christ and they will not come to the Bible with a fresh mind waiting for the Holy Spirit to fill their cup. In fact, the water in their cup is corrupted by their own prejudice.

Paul warns the Corinthians not to depart from the simplicity that is in Christ.

    11:5 ¶  For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 6  But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. 7  Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8  I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. 9  And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 10  As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11  Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12  But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Paul continues this argument by pointing out that he is among the Apostles of Christ. He admits he is not a good speaker but has been open with the Corinthians in teaching them the gospel of Christ. He did not get any financial support from them but depended on other churches to assist him in his ministry to the Corinthians.

Paul wants to make it clear that he is not making merchandise of them. What he does and says it is for their benefit. He warns them about the false apostles who are the Gnostics who deny the Lord came in the flesh. John gave this warning.

1John 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2John 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Paul’s nemeses also include the Judaizers who try to put the Christian back under the Law. He admonished the Galatians.

Galatians 3: 1 ¶  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?...24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Paul has also noted that there are those who, like the Sadducees of the Jews deny the very Resurrection that is the cornerstone of their faith. He is dealing with a great many heresies and divisions already springing up.

Verse 14 should give us all a shudder. Satan appears to be something good by deception. He masks himself as an angel of light and his ministers of unrighteousness can look like ministers of righteousness.

Just think of all of the Catholic priests and fundamentalist pastors and youth workers who have been charged with and convicted of sexual crimes against innocent children or even crimes against adults like rape and other forms of abuse.

Think of the Unitarians of colonial America in New England. Most of them started out in churches that were staunch Congregationalists, Puritans, strict in doctrine and dogma and eventually began to move into the fold that denied the divinity of Christ. Eventually it didn’t matter what you believed in as long as you believed in God. Then, that was optional. Our second president John Adams was married and buried in such a church. In his letters to Thomas Jefferson later in life he denied the trinity, disbelieved that the Devil existed, and expressed in a belief in a religion of good works saying that every good man was a Christian. Don’t believe me. Read his own letters and a letter from Abigail, his wife, to their son, John Quincy Adams, denying the divinity of Christ. It doesn’t mean they didn’t respect Christ as a teacher or even deny His resurrection or miracles. It just means that they denied the Scriptures’ testimony that he was God and that salvation was by faith alone with good works a result, not the cause, of faith.

We must always be wary of false doctrine disguised as truth, bathed in a glow of good works and acts of kindness, denying the fully-God and fully-man Christ Jesus. I know good people right now who regard themselves as Christians in philosophy only and hold to the so-called Golden Rule as their guide but who, in their religion of good works, deny the One who created them as clearly written in the Bible.

Regardless of what they call themselves they are practicing atheists.

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

John 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

2Corinthians 10:7-18 comments: only whom God commends or approves

10:7 ¶  Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8  For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9  That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10  For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11  Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

Paul deals with his detractors now, those who oppose him and judge him harshly. Paul starts with his unimpressive physical appearance and the fact that he is not a professional preacher like the Sophists described previously. If you remember, his name originally was Saul. But, he was also called Paul.

Ac 13:9  Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

According to Strong’s dictionary Paul means little or small. So, the assumption can be made that Paul was a short man, not a very big man at all, and not very impressive physically, perhaps like Zacchaeus of Luke 19.

Paul is wondering if he will have to put on the boldness of his letters when he returns. It seems he hopes not but he is willing to come in like a lion if need be. The Corinthians’ walk with Christ is at stake.

Paul insists that the authority he has over the Corinthians was given to him by the Lord for the Corinthians’ sake, for their edification not their destruction. He is trying to make them understand that what he says he says for their own good.

    10:12 ¶  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13  But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14  For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure,

as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15  Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16  To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. 17  But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18  For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Eighteenth-century preacher, John Gill, who preached in Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s church a hundred years before him, believed that Paul was speaking ironically in a mocking tone referring to those false apostles, those inheritors of the Sophist tradition mentioned earlier and false Judaizers who wanted to deny the resurrection and bring the Christians back under the Law, make merchandise of the believers, and corrupt or water-down God’s word. He is not putting himself on their level, assuming their own self-imposed greatness.

Paul insists that he is not going to go outside of what God has given him in spiritual authority over the Corinthians. He also wants to build on the faith of the Corinthians to reach the lost in regions beyond Corinth, not building on the work of laborers already sent. In the end of the passage as he brings it back down to plain speech he makes the point that only whom God commends and approves of is approved and commended, not those who puff themselves up in themselves.

2Corinthians 10:1-6 comments: spiritual warfare

10:1 ¶  Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2  But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Paul is saying here that when he was with the Corinthians he was base, that is, lowly. See the definition in the following Old Testament verses as the opposite of honorable or to be held in high regard. Base is a matter of low status and honorable as like those having great authority.

2Samuel 6:22  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

Isaiah 3:5  And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

Ezekiel 17:14  That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

Malachi 2:9  Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

And in the New Testament, in fact, in Paul’s own writings.

1Corinthians 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

Bearing Christ’s meekness and gentleness when he was with them Paul has been bold in his letters. He doesn’t want to be bold or harsh among them lest he be thought of as carnal and physically aggressive because his warfare is spiritual and must be understood that way. Paul then talks about spiritual warfare, which unlike the Hebrew a thousand years before, was not the warfare of armies, swords, taking cities and prisoners. Christian warfare is internal, spiritual, to the pulling down of every imagination, every thought and, indeed, anything that places itself above God in the spirit of our minds. It cannot be forced and must be the result of a willing mind.

Verse 6 points to spiritual discipline as a Christian. Paul reminded other churches to do the same as in 1Thessalonians 5:14 when he says, “…warn them that are unruly…”

Colossians 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Church discipline and rebuking open sin in the congregation was one of the reasons for writing the first letter, if you remember. A man had sinned against God and against his own father. Jesus talked about church discipline when one person sins against another and about forgiveness when the person is repentant.

Matthew 18:15 ¶  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done

for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

    21 ¶  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

2Corinthians 8:16-9:15 comments: voluntary giving to benefit suffering churches

8:16 ¶  But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17  For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 18  And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 19  And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 20  Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: 21  Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22  And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 23  Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 24  Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

In verse 18 we don’t know who the brother was that went with Titus to Corinth although some commentators have Luke and others have Barnabas based on some statement or the other in Acts and apparently it is not important to the narrative that we know. Still, it is these things throughout the Bible mentioning little facts without elaborating that intrigues Bible students. If we remember that predominantly the Bible is God’s revelation of His ministry of reconciling man to Himself and focuses on what He has done and how men and women responded these things do not give us much concern.

Chapter 9

9:1 ¶  For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2  For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3  Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4  Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5  Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

They’ve talked the talk and now Paul admonishes them to walk the walk, so to speak. He bragged about them to the Macedonians and now is encouraging them to put their money where their mouths are. (For non-English speakers both idioms, “you’ve talked the talked now walk the walk,” and, “put your money where your mouth is,” mean to not just say you are committed to do something but do it.)

He doesn’t want to be embarrassed by the Corinthians if representatives from the Macedonian church come with him. He is giving them notice of his coming so they can prepare. His final comment is that he wants their generosity to be a matter of their liberality, their voluntary generosity, prepared beforehand and not begrudgingly as a greedy person who only lets go of his or her money with hesitation and bitterness when manipulated into guilt in a church meeting.

    9:6 ¶  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9  (As it is written, He hath

dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11  Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13  Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14  And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

In the context of supporting other churches that were suffering Paul admonishes the Corinthians to give out of a cheerful heart, willingly, not begrudgingly or as the result of manipulation.

Exodus 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.    

Remember the instructions Paul gave to the church at Rome?

Romans 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Verse 9 is a quote from the Old Testament.

Psalm 112:9  He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

Verse 13 carries a blessing for ministering to the needs of the suffering churches in Judea, particularly Jerusalem, and by extension, to all in need. This was contrasted with Roman concepts of charity where you only wanted to give first, to public works, and secondly to people who would be able to benefit you in return. There was government instituted relief for the poor in the form of the grain dole which kept growing and growing becoming a political force modern Democrats would appreciate. But, this is voluntary giving out of a cheerful heart.  

The essence of Christian giving as opposed to non-Christian is that the recipient does not have to be able to do anything for you or even be grateful for what you have done. You do it because Christ did it. Giving is a proof of your Christian character not of the character of the person receiving the help. In fact, the greatest level of Christian giving, in keeping with what God has done for us, is to give to someone who cannot give back and who perhaps does not even know you were their benefactor as God knows and that is all that matters. Jesus said, in perhaps the greatest sermon ever given by anyone [alms is giving money or food to the poor and destitute];

Matthew 6:1 ¶  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

2Corinthians 8:7-15 comments: urging the Corinthians to be generous out of their abundance

8:7 ¶  Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8  I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11  Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Utterance would refer to speaking God’s word boldly without fear.

Ephesians 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Colossians 4:3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Paul then asks that as the Corinthians abound in faith, preaching and teaching and understanding God’s word, their knowledge and their diligence that they also abound in generosity. Paul is urging, not commanding, the Corinthians to show their love by their generosity. His argument begins with how Christ humbled Himself, making Himself poor so that they might be rich. They are willing and now he is asking them to actually do something. He is only asking them to give out of their abundance even though other churches have been generous even in their poverty.

This voluntary redistribution of wealth,  not made at the point of the government’s sword, but out of a willing heart is asked not so that they are made poor but that other churches may be as they are. It is about churches lifting each other up, with one church assisting another in giving of their abundance to alleviate another’s poverty and suffering. The Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, uses an Old Testament event to make His point here.

Exodus 16:13 ¶  And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. 14  And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15  And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. 16  This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 17  And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 18  And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

A similar sentiment is expressed in the early church at Jerusalem before persecution scattered many of them. This was appropriated by people like Karl Marx and misapplied to governmental extortion rather than a willing heart.

Acts  2:45  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acts 4:35  And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

We know from places like Acts 11 there was suffering among the churches in Judaea in the past and the Apostles took up collections for them. We know from Paul’s own confession that he himself had implemented persecution against Christians when he had been an official sent out to strike at Christianity. So, there was still ongoing and intense persecution of the Judean brethren.

Acts 8:3  As for Saul [Paul’s original name], he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Acts 22:4  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

1Corinthians 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Galatians 1:13  For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

We also know from this letter in chapter one that Paul was on his way to Judaea.

2Corinthians 1:16  And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

2Corinthians 8:1-6 comments: Paul beings his appeal for the churches in Judea

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.