And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Corinthians 8:1
“The exegetical analysis of 2 Corinthians 8-9 has pointed out that Paul uses the concept of χάρις [grace] in its various meanings to stimulate the Corinthians to resume their collection for Jerusalem. The Macedonians’ enthusiastic contribution to the collection is seen as the result of God’s χάρις (8:1), and as an example to be emulated by the Corinthians (8:8).
From the Macedonians’ amazing example, Paul passes to the self-impoverishment of Jesus Christ, depicted also as χάρις, a generous act for the benefit of the Corinthians (8:9). The collection itself is called χάρις in the sense of a generous undertaking (8:6, 7, 19), a generous gift (9:5) while participation in it is seen as χάρις, a privilege (8:4). Moreover, reference is made to God’s bestowing πᾶσαν χάριν (9:8) in the sense of material and spiritual resources to cheerful givers.
Therefore, serving the poor through the collection is an expression of God’s χάρις in the life of the believer (9:14); it is an aspect of righteousness on the part of the latter (9:10). The Jerusalem Christians will hopefully reciprocate this χάρις, gratitude by means of thanksgivings addressed to God and intercessory prayers for the Corinthians. Similarly, Paul, who expressed χάρις to God for Titus’ work among the Corinthians (8:16), invites the Corinthians and other Achaean churches to join him in worship to God for His all surpassing gift of salvation (9:15).”
Viateur Habarurema in Christian Generosity according to 2 Corinthians 8-9: It’s Exegesis, Reception, and Interpretation Today in Dialogue with the Prosperity Gospel in Sub-Saharan Africa (Carlisle, UK: Langham Monographs, 2017) 168-169.
Recently I was exploring responses to prosperity gospel from voices from the Lausanne Movement. Special thanks to Kevin VandenBrink, a Daily Meditation reader, who alerted me to this recently published dissertation. It just came in the mail, and I am enjoying it very much. I will make a few posts from it.
Today’s reading comes from the conclusion of his exploration of 2 Corinthians 8-9. Take time to read it in one sitting. Pause everytime you see the word χάρις or grace. Habarurema challenges us to see how it functions to help the Corinthians (and us) discover that all giving is a grace flowing from the gift of salvation to us.
This is not insignificant in the ancient world or to us in modern times. Giving is a grace. The work of Jesus for us is a grace. Our response or participation is a grace. Helping those in need is a grace. Being refilled for rich generosity is a grace. This runs counter to most modern and ancient thinking.
In the first century and today, giving is often motivated by law rather than love, measured by merit more than mercy, and shows favoritism instead of fairness. As a result, many give grudgingly or out of obligation rather than making the most of every opportunity. Only when do we grasp grace does all this change for the good.
Speaking of change, that’s the impact AfCAA is having in Africa: replacing systems of corruption with standards of accountability. And they need our help rooted in grace, even as the Jerusalem church needed aid from the Corinthians. The $5,000 USD matching gift has 3 days left. It’s at $3,152 from 30 givers. Click here to give and join this movement of grace.