(The previous post concluded with the Theme of Chapter 6: Paul encouraged us not to receive the grace of God in vain. Paul presented a list of thirty-eight attributes believers ought to exhibit while they work in the ministry of reconciliation with the Holy Spirit. Paul did not believe we could do this ministry of reconciliation while being in fellowship with unbelievers.)
2 Corinthians 7
1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
(Because we have these promises of eternity in paradise, we ought to kill the flesh so that God will come out. Killing our flesh will perfect holiness (increase purity) in the fear (reverence) of God.)
2 Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took advantage of no man.
3 I say it not to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.
(Paul made it clear that his motive was not condemnation.)
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction.
(Paul was bold towards them which would cause discomfort, which leads to long term growth. Some people would consider Paul's boldness condemnation because of how they felt as an effect. That was why Paul told them he was not condemning them (verse 3). Paul brought together the themes of this letter when he wrote he was overflowing with joy in all their affliction.)
5 For even when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless he that comforteth the lowly, even God, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
(God comforted them in their afflictions by sending Titus.)
7 and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more.
(Paul was also comforted by learning of the Corinthians longing, mourning, and zeal for Paul.)
8 For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it: though I did regret it (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season),
9 I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing.
(Paul's first letter caused sorrow in the Corinthians and Paul did, for a while, regret making them sorry. The reason Paul only felt regret for a while was because the sorrow they felt led to repentance.)
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
(Doctrine: Godly sorrow (conviction/guilt) works towards repentance. Confession and repentance is the only way to remove guilt.)
11 For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.
(The godly sorrow they felt was handled the right way: their actions grew in righteousness.)
12 So although I wrote unto you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight of God.
13 Therefore we have been comforted: And in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hath been refreshed by you all.
(Paul felt good about himself because he felt good about the Corinthians. The Corinthians refreshed Titus' spirit.)
14 For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.
(Paul had vouched for the Corinthians to Titus and his words came to be true.)
15 And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16 I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you.
(Theme of Chapter 7: Paul addressed the effect of his previous letter. While it did cause sorrow, Paul was joyful the sorrow was from conviction of guilt and led to repentance. Paul stated that he overflowed in joy over all of their afflictions.)
2 Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;
2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
(Paul turned the focus to others. The churches in Macedonia were experiencing affliction and deep poverty. However, they were free from these physical circumstances because of their focus on God and His grace, which resulted in joy and riches of their liberality.)
3 For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
4 beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:
5 and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
(The believers in the churches of Macedonia were focused on the right cause: Love God. The effect of this was that they loved others. Paul wanted them to give themselves in fellowship to them. However, the church first had fellowship with God, then had fellowship with Paul's group.
Doctrine: We cannot be in fellowship (unveiled) with each other if we are not in fellowship (unveiled) with God.)
6 Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.
7 But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
(Doctrine: Abound in grace. We ought to be letting God work through us more over time. This also proved that grace couldn't mean "unmerited favor." How can you "abound" in something you do not merit? By not deserving it more? Paul referenced all of the things from the previous letter that he told people to abound in (love, spiritual gifts, prophesying, etc.), then he said to abound in grace also.)
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.
(Paul then focused on Jesus: By grace, Christ made Himself "poor" so we could be "rich.")
10 And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.
11 But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
(Paul was focused on the actions, the right how. The people had a will to do something and Paul was exhorting them to do it.)
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.
13 For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;
14 but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:
(Paul was talking about sharing what you have. However, not at the point of it becoming a burden. The point was to give of your abundance as an investment so that the person receiving, once they became abundant, could give back.)
15 as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack.
(Paul referenced Exodus 16:18 which concerned manna: daily bread/food from God.)
16 But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
(God put His care for the Corinthians in the heart of Titus. Paul was affirming Titus to the Corinthians.)
17 For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.
(Paul continued to affirm Titus to the Corinthians: Titus went to Corinth of his own accord. He did not do this because he felt he had to, he chose to.)
18 And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches;
19 and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness:
20 Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us:
(Paul was being careful how they handled the abundance they had from a contribution.)
21 for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
(Paul wanted to be honest in things (have) in God's sight and in man's sight.)
22 and we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he hath in you.
23 Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ.
24 Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.
(Paul vouched for Titus again and exhorted the Corinthians to show Titus the proof (actions) of their love.)
(Theme of Chapter 8: Paul exhorted the Corinthians to abound in grace. Paul turned his focus to others including the church in Macedonia and Titus to illustrate the importance of fellowship which included sharing physical resources.)
2 Corinthians 9
1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2 for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.
(Paul knew he did not have to teach the Corinthians about ministering to other believers. They had been doing this.)
3 But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:
(Paul explained why he sent other brethren (Titus being one). He assured them it was not because they needed help in how they treated each other. Paul sent brethren there so they "may be prepared.")
4 lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.
(Paul wanted to help the Corinthians be as prepared as possible for when he came to them with people from Macedonia. Paul and the brethren had been "glorying" on their behalf and did not want their kind words to the Macedonians about the Corinthians to be made void because the Corinthians were not prepared for their visit.)
5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.
6 But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
(Paul sent brethren ahead of time to help the Corinthians give in order to achieve gain rather than wait for Paul to exhort them to give in order to avoid loss.
Causality: Sowing bountifully will reap bountifully, sowing sparingly will reap sparingly. You reap what you sow, Justice will be equaled out.)
7 Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(There was no amount named regarding what to give. We give according to what we purpose in our hearts. We ought to give cheerfully, not grudgingly (sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction) or of necessity (as a law). Paul taught that giving not only involved an action but also an attitude (cheer). Giving cheerfully would be an effect of understanding Justice. When we realize what we give to God's Kingdom is an investment and that we will receive Reward from that, giving will be cheerful.)
8 And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:
(God is able to make all grace abound to us so that we being sufficient in all things may abound to every good work. God's grace makes us profitable.)
9 as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.
(Paul referenced Psalm 112:9.)
10 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:
11 ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;
(Paul told them their giving would bring thanksgiving to God, because the funds Paul received were going towards the work of God.)
13 seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all;
14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
(God's grace is in believers via the Holy Spirit being in believers.)
15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
(Theme of chapter 9: Paul focused on the giving of physical resources. Paul showed that giving not only involved an action but also an attitude (cheer). Paul showed that God responded to our giving through Justice.)
Day 334
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