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| 1 But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia; |
The grace of God bestowed – At the council at Jerusalem, AD 50, Paul promised to take up collections among the congregations of the Gentiles for the poor at Jerusalem, which he had now done in Macedonia, Greece and Asia Minor. R1593:2
The grace of benevolence is an important factor in spiritual living. R1593:6
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| 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their free-hearted liberality. |
Their deep poverty – Evidently in the churches of Macedonia, as elsewhere, "not many rich" were among the "called." R4526:2
No doubt resulting from the famine which occurred in the reign of the Emperor Claudius. (Acts 11:28) R1593:6, 4526:1
Riches of their liberality – They gave to the measure of their power and beyond it and without urging. R4526:2
God permits his work often to seem to lag for want of means, that the seeming necessity may give us the opportunity to deny ourselves in his service--for our benefit, our development, our blessing. R1334:5, 548:2
The warp in our "earthen vessels" is such that we shall probably find self more and better provided for than our poorer brother or the work of our Father. We should be constantly on our guard about this. R548:5
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| 3 For according to their power, I bear witness, and beyond their power, they were willing of their own accord, |
Beyond their power – Inquire not, "How much shall I give of my time, money and influence?" Rather, ask, "How much may I use for myself?" None of the things you have are yours, but God's; you are his steward. R548:4
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| 4 begging of us with much entreaty to give effect to the grace and fellowship of the service which was to be rendered to the saints. |
Praying us with much intreaty – They had entreated the Apostle to act as their representative in this service. R4526:2
The Lord's children and work will get along without us; but what a loss of opportunity and blessing we should sustain. If we fail to use our privileges, some more worthy will enjoy them and be rewarded. R548:4
To the saints – The poor saints at Jerusalem. There was great need: (1) the converts were mostly from the poorer classes, (2) the turbulent state of the times, (3) Christians were unpopular, and could expect no outside aid. R1593:2
The word saint is used to designate the truly consecrated among professing Christians. R1139:1
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| 5 And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will. |
Not as we hoped – Their course was more noble than the Apostle had dared hope. R4526:4
But first gave – They had said in effect, "We are Christ's in this matter, and yours after him; for this we realize to be the will of God." R4526:4
Their own selves – The Church at Macedonia did not stop with the giving of money, but extended even to the giving of themselves in any way to serve the cause of God, and thus it brought them spiritual blessings. R1594:1
Let each one possessing the gift of wealth exercise it according to his judgment of the Master's will--in "doing good unto all men (temporally or spiritually, especially spiritually)." (Gal. 6:10) R1593:5, 548:6
"The liberal soul shall be made fat." (Prov. 11:25) R1593:6
What am I sacrificing? I have time, money and influence, some of each: am I so arranging my affairs that as large a proportion as possible of these is used directly in the Master's service? R548:3
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| 6 So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also; |
We desired Titus – In view of this spiritual blessing upon the Macedonian Christians, the Apostle urged upon Titus the importance of bringing the subject to the careful notice of the troubled and distracted Christians at Corinth. R1594:1
In you the same grace – It was this giving from the heart which the Apostle wished to inculcate. R4526:4
This Scripture may be said to be the only appeal for money recorded in the Bible. R4526:1
If they would practice the spirit of Christianity--benevolence--they would come to see more clearly the doctrines of Christ, which, because of failure to practice, they were in danger of losing. R1594:1
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| 7 but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also. |
As ye abound – The Apostle complimented them. R4526:4
And knowledge – The clear teachings of the Word were so powerfully counteracted by selfishness--love of self, its ease, honors, etc., that the Word had but slight practical effect. R548:3
See that ye abound – He urged for their own good. R4526:4
He asked nothing for himself. R4526:2
In this grace also – The grace of giving. R4526:4
The congregation at Corinth had been appealed to with reference to contributions for the poor of the congregation at Jerusalem, but they had not responded according to their means. R1593:6
He would stir them up to the exercise of generosity that he might increase their spiritual vitality and joy. R4526:2
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| 8 I do not speak as commanding it, but through the zeal of others, and proving the genuineness of your love. |
Prove – "The Lord your God doth prove you." He permits his work often to seem to lag for want of means, that the seeming necessity may give us the opportunity to deny ourselves in his service--for our development. R1334:5
Sincerity – Benevolence, unselfishness, is a test or proof of the sincerity of our love. The opportunities for the exercise of benevolence will prove to what extent the new mind is ruling in us and conquering the old. R1594:1
Of your love – For the Lord and for the brethren. R4526:4
The Gentiles acknowledged that the spiritual blessings of the gospel message had come to them through representatives of the Jewish people. R4526:2
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| 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that *ye* by *his* poverty might be enriched. |
For ye know – To emphasize the necessity for development of a spirit of benevolence, Paul reminds them of Jesus' example. R4526:4, 1594:1, 1299:1*
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ – The same spirit of benevolence that moved him to leave the glory controlled him throughout. R106:4*
Though he was rich – The great Logos, "the Only Begotten of the Father," the chiefest of all God's creatures. R5846:6, 505:2*
"His dear Son, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature." (Col. 1:15) R446:5*; OV328:8
The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Rev. 1:8; 3:14; 21:6; 22:13). As Jehs pla R1060:4, 446:5*
"Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Cor. 8:6) R446:5*
"The glory which I had with thee before the world was." (John 17:5) E87; R4098:2, 1161:5, 1060:2, 446:4*
The spiritual nature with all its glory and honor. R5927:5, 5748:2, 4526:4, 2761:4, 2212:5, 1125:3, 327:2*; T51
He left the heavenly condition. R3847:3
On the spirit plane with its heavenly comforts. R5352:2
With dignity and honor. R5157:1
Our Lord Jesus existed prior to his incarnation in a more exalted nature and condition. R1673:3
In every sense of the word, far beyond our comprehension. R2762:2, 2729:2
He was possessed of glory and honor and riches of wisdom and power above both angels and men. HG292:3
He had been the honored agent of Jehovah in all his mighty works. R1247:2
"Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58) R1161:5, 505:2*
Unitarians take away from the dignity and honor of our Lord, besides contradicting much Scripture, by denying that he had an existence before his conception in Mary. (See Col. 1:15-17) R505:2*
This text, along with many others, refutes the theory that Jesus began his existence the same as other men--that he was the son of Joseph. R5767:6
Yet for your sakes – "That he, by the grace of God, might taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9) R4964:4
That he might redeem our race from its death sentence. R4526:4, 5927:6, 1125:4
The world of mankind, the entire race of Adam, was lost in sin and its penalty, death--without hope of ability to recover itself, for no member of the race could redeem it or give a ransom. (Psa. 49:7) R3847:3
The grandest example on record of self-denial in the interest of others is the gift by our Lord Jesus of himself for the world. R2212:5
He exchanged the heavenly things for the earthly, that he might sacrifice them. CR43:4; Q442:3
Many of earth's heroes have been warriors who slaughtered millions. Jesus refused men's honors and yielded up his own life that he might bring back to life and joy and peace those untold millions. R1063:3
When the time came for the Father to send a Savior into the world to redeem it, and the proposal to render the great service to men was proffered to the Logos, he replied, "I delight to do thy will." (Psa. 40:8) R5846:6
Inasmuch as the man and race to be redeemed were human, it was needful that he become human so as to give the ransom or corresponding price. R1879:3
Whoever would redeem man must himself be a man--the full equivalent of the man who sinned. SM659:T
There were no spirit beings condemned to death. He did not sacrifice pre-human rights. Man needs earthly rights. It is those rights Jesus redeems through giving his earthly life sacrificially. R4905:1; Q442:3,4
For the joy set before him. (Heb. 12:2) E394; R5215:2, 4905:1; Q442:3
He became poor – Jesus has illustrated to us the proper course of full self-abasement and submission to whatever may be the divine will. R5847:5
Willingly our Lord Jesus laid aside the glory of the higher nature which he had had with the Father from before the creation of man. R1125:4; HG292:5
A great humiliation--leaving the dignity of the chiefest on the spirit plane, to become a human being--a man amongst men. R5846:6, 5927:5, 4964:3, 4905:1, 4669:5, 4587:6, 3847:3
"He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." (Phil. 2:7) R446:5*
Humbling himself to a lower nature, even as a man, becoming obedient even unto death. HG292:3
Taking the human nature that he might redeem us. R2212:5
His human body was the body of his humiliation (Acts 8:33), the "body prepared" for R1806:2
Endured the cross, despising the shame, took the bondman's form and humbled himself even unto the most ignominious form of death. R1879:3
He did not merely pretend to be poor, but he actually became poor--"He was made flesh." (John 1:14) R2409:6, 5622:5, 5157:1, 5064:1; CR290:5
Coming to the scenes of this world, darkened by sin and death. R5352:2
He lost friend after friend, and in his last hour was forsaken by all. R4818:2
Not just posing as though he were poor. R5157:1
As a man, he had none of this world's goods. R1060:2, 1247:3,4, 446:4*
As the Master made a full surrender of his will and talents and all, so also must all who, hearing the Master's voice, become his disciples or footstep followers. CR423:5
The fact that the faith and preaching of the Lord and the apostles did not bring them wealth, but cost them much in self-sacrifice, is a convincing proof to us of their sincerity and their honesty. R4526:1
If you have given your attention, time, mind, reputation, friends, money and life, you are like Jesus of Nazareth, who for our sakes became poor. Poor for awhile, you are an heir of the Kingdom. R285:4, 210:4*
Here and there amongst the many nominal Christians are found a few who have forsaken all earthly interests and have voluntarily and gladly cast in their lot with him who was rich and for our sakes became poor. NS271:2
Like Joseph, all of his humiliation prepared the way for him to be succored and honored by Pharaoh. R5215:2
Not just Jesus' body died: "He poured out his soul unto death." He made "his soul an offering for sin." (Isa. 53:10, 12) R5238:4
One proof that Christ's sacrificial death does not refer to his leaving his pre-existent life is that in John 10:17, 18 he said, "I lay down m R1298:5*
Higher Criticism teaches that our Lord happened to be a rather superior type of man, but that he never had a pre-human existence, nor did he take a human form that he might be our Redeemer. NS255:5
Through his poverty – The Logos was made Jesus. The death of Jesus constitutes the basis of all future blessings to the Church and to the world. R5352:4
All his previous humiliation from the spiritual to the human nature was only preparatory to the offering of the great sacrifice which was to accomplish our redemption. R1247:3,4
He humbled himself unto death, even unto the death of the cross. (Phil. 2:8) R5064:3
It is unsupposable that man's redemption would cost Jesus an eternity of poverty, while the Church would be rich. OV354:2
Might be rich – Possessed of divine favor and the riches of divine grace in Christ--even joint-heirship with him. R5927:6, 4526:4, 2212:5
Eventually, in the Millennial Kingdom. R2761:4
That mankind might be redeemed from the curse--the death sentence and all it includes of sorrow, pain and alienation from God. PD55/67
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| 10 And I give my opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago. |
Who have begun before – They were dilatory about doing what they had purposed. R1594:1
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| 11 But now also complete the doing of it; so that as there was the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have. |
Perform the doing of it – Our concern is for you who have consecrated, lest you should fail to perform your sacrifice. We have for some time seen the necessity of sacrifice on the part of all who would win the great prize. R548:2
No saint has so little that he has nothing to spend for the glory and honor of him who did so much for us. If you have been led of the Lord to consecrate your all, you surely have a way before you to perform. R548:6, 4526:5
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| 12 For if the readiness be there, a man is accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not. |
First a willing mind – A truly "willing mind" to serve the Lord will always find a way. R1973:4
To be a sacrifice at all, it must be a willing offering and not one forced upon us. R548:4
God looks not at the amount, but at the heart condition prompting the gift. R4526:5, 1594:4
Lest some who had a proper, benevolent will in the matter might feel that their gifts were too insignificant, Paul assures them that God accepts our hearts, our wills. See Mark 12:42-44. R1594:4
According to that a man hath – In this dark pathway of sorrow, there are abundant opportunities to be generous, even for those who have no money--perhaps a kind word of sympathy or advice, or even a kind look. R4526:5
Where much is possessed much is required; where little is possessed less is required as respects the flesh, provided the heart is up to the standard. SM309:2
This will be as true of the world during the Millennial age as it is of the Church now. A143
Not according to that he hath not – If you have nothing to give, then you cannot sacrifice anything, and all who attain that goal are sacrificers. Search carefully; none were called to whom one talent or more had not been given. R548:6
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| 13 For it is not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress, |
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| 14 but on the principle of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should be equality. |
By an equality – Do for the poor so as to have them "decent;" yourself and family should be "decent;" the cause of truth should be supported decently; in no way have you a right to waste the Lord's goods by extravagance. R548:5
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| 15 According as it is written, He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little was nothing short. |
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| 16 But thanks be to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus. |
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| 17 For he received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you; |
The exhortation – Even when the apostles called or sent any of the younger brethren in the ministry, it was not as of arbitrary authority, but as of request which they were likely to follow, because of their confidence in him. R1822:2
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| 18 but we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the glad tidings through all the assemblies; |
The brother – The apostles did not title each other, nor receive such homage from the Church. All the Church were similarly greeted--as brothers and sisters in Christ. F230; R1523:5
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| 19 and not only so, but is also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and a witness of our readiness; |
Who was also – Paul himself was evidently chosen, by vote, to be a missionary--a representative of the churches. F277
Chosen – Greek: kirotoneo; to elect by stretching out the hand. F277
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| 20 avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us; |
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| 21 for we provide for things honest, not only before the Lord, but also before men. |
Providing for honest things – It is not wrong to make a reasonable provision for tomorrow, with a view to the necessities of one's family. The mistake would be to spend no money for the Lord until we have attained the comforts of life. R2259:4
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| 22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be of diligent zeal in many things, and now more diligently zealous through the great confidence he has as to you. |
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| 23 Whether as regards Titus, he is my companion and fellow-labourer in your behalf; or our brethren, they are deputed messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory. |
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| 24 Shew therefore to them, before the assemblies, the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you. |
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