Catholic Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

The Generosity of Macedonia

Paul commends to the Corinthians the example of the Macedonian churches, who gave generously to the collection for Jerusalem despite being in severe trial and extreme poverty. Out of their poverty they gave beyond their means, entirely on their own initiative, begging earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then, by the will of God, to Paul. In view of this, he urges the Corinthians to complete the grace of giving that they had begun the previous year. He is not commanding but testing the sincerity of their love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

Then comes the theological ground of all Christian generosity, one of the most compressed and beautiful christological statements in the entire Pauline corpus: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. The Incarnation is presented as an act of divine generosity: the eternal Son who possessed everything became poor in the taking on of human flesh and human death, so that his poverty might become the source of our eternal wealth. The Catechism cites this as the theological foundation of the Church's social teaching: Christian generosity is not merely an ethical obligation but a participation in the logic of the Incarnation (CCC 2546).

The Principle of Equality

Paul does not want others to be relieved while the Corinthians are pressed hard: it is a matter of equality. At the present time their abundance will supply what the Jerusalem community lacks. The goal is equality, as it is written: the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. The manna in the wilderness is the type of Christian economic sharing: enough for everyone, no hoarding, no scarcity. Paul commends Titus and two unnamed brothers as the administrators of the collection.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, though he was rich, he became poor for your sake. The richness you now have in Christ, the forgiveness, the adoption, the indwelling Spirit, the promise of glory, all of it came through his poverty, the poverty of Bethlehem and Calvary. Let the logic of the Incarnation govern your generosity. Give because he gave first. Give generously because he gave everything.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, though you were rich, you became poor for our sake so that we might become rich through your poverty. Free us from the grip of wealth. Make us cheerful givers who participate in the logic of your own self-giving. Let equality be the aim of our generosity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

8
Generosity Commended
(Philippians 4:10–20)
1 Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia. 2 In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord, 4 they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.
 
6 So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it. 7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you * 8:7 Or in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.
 
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10 And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire. 11 Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means. 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
 
13 It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. 14 At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality. 15 As it is written:
 
“He who gathered much had no excess,
and he who gathered little had no shortfall.Ӡ 8:15 Exodus 16:18
Titus Commended
(Titus 1:1–4)
 
16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you. 17 For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.
 
18 Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel. 19 More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering ‡ 8:19 See 1 Corinthians 16:3–4.—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
 
20 We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift. 21 For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
 
22 And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers § 8:23 Or apostles of the churches, to the glory of Christ. 24 In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

*8:7 8:7 Or in your love for us

†8:15 8:15 Exodus 16:18

‡8:19 8:19 See 1 Corinthians 16:3–4.

§8:23 8:23 Or apostles

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