The extraordinary liberality of the Macedonians, vs. 1-6. Exhortation to the Corinthians to follow the example of their Macedonian brethren, vs. 7-16. Commendation of Titus for his zeal in promoting the collection of contributions for the poor, and of tb^. other brethren who were to accompany him to Corinth, \s, 17-24.
Exhortation to liberality to the poor.
To tMs subject the apostle devotes this and the following chapter. He begins by setting before the Corinthians the liberality of the churches in Macedonia. They, in the midst of great affliction and of extreme poverty, had exceeded their ability in the contributions which they had made for the saints, vs. 1-3. And this not by constraint or in obedience to earnest entreaties on the part of the apostle ; but on the con- trary, it was they who besought him to receive and take charge of their alms, v. 4. Liberality to the poor was only a part of what they did ; they devoted themselves to the Lord, V. 5. The conduct of the Macedonians led the apostle to ex- hort Titus, as he had already begun the work, to carry it on to completion in Corinth, v. 6.
He begs them, therefore, to add this to all their other graces, v. 7. This was a matter of advice, not of command. He was induced to give this exhortation because others had evinced so much zeal in this matter, and because he desired them to prove the sincerity of their love. What was all they could do for others, compared to what Christ had done for them, vs. 8. 9. The exercise of liberality was a good to them, provided their feelings found expression in corresponding acts, vs. 10. 11. The disposition, not the amount of their con- tributions, was the main thing, v. 12. What the apostle wished was that there might be some approximation to equality among Christians, that the abundance of one may supply the wants of another, vs. 13-15.
He thanks God who had inspired Titus with so much zeal on this subject, vs. 16. 17. With him he had sent a brother who had not only the approbation of the churches, but had been chosen for the very purpose of taking charge of the con- tributions in connection with the apostle, vs. 18. 19. Paul was determined to avoid all occasion of reproach, and therefore he associated others with himself in the charge of the money in- . 9