This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:12-15
Above are the words of the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the church in Corinth (c. 56). Over 100 years later, Soter, bishop of Rome, had sent alms and a letter to the Corinthians in the year 170. In 171, the eleventh year of the reign of Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, we read this reply from Dionysius, bishop of Corinth.
“For this has been your custom from the beginning, to do good to all the brethren in various ways, and to send resources to many churches which are in every city, thus refreshing the poverty of the needy, and granting subsidies to the brethren who are in the mines. Through the resources which ye have sent from the beginning, ye Romans, keep up the custom of the Romans handed down by the fathers, which your blessed Bishop Soter has not only preserved, but added to, sending a splendid gift to the saints, and exhorting with blessed words those brethren who go up to Rome, as an affectionate father his children. . .
Therefore you also have by such admonition joined in close union the churches that were planted by Peter and Paul, that of the Romans and that of the Corinthians: for both of them went to our Corinth, and taught us in the same way as they taught you when they went to Italy; and having taught you, they suffered martyrdom at the same time.”
Dionysius of Corinth (c. 171) in “Fragments from a Letter to the Roman Church I, III”. Various sources locate the martyrdoms of both Peter and Paul under Emperor Nero (c. 64-67).
What is significant about this for us today as we continue to explore the ideas of providence and generosity in the early church fathers?
This record serves as evidence that it had become customary by the second century for Christians who had been blessed in God’s providence with a surplus of resources to help fellow believers in need. Peter and Paul both resolved to keep on helping the poor (cf. Galatians 2:8-10) and over one hundred years later, Christians were still following their example. Believers were often banished to work in mines because of their faith. Rather than forget about them, the Roman bishop Soter orchestrated a collection and sent what Dionysius describes as a splendid gift.
If your church has been blessed, pray about helping another church that may be in need. Perhaps identify a church in another country. Remember Rome was in Italy and Corinth was in Greece. Develop an ongoing partnership with another church in the gospel. As this ancient testimony reveals, such giving not only blesses those in need, but it leads to “close union” between churches. It also glorifies God before a watching world. When people see Christians sharing generously, it makes them want that which we have which is more valuable than money: the indescribable gift of Jesus!
And if you have a moment, pray for safe travel today in winter weather. I am flying to Chicago to teach my “Faith & Finances” course to a class of honors students at Northern Seminary. Also, my son, Sammy, is helping drive our daughter, Sophie, back to school in San Diego. Thanks for your prayers.