2 Corinthians 8 vs 1-24 -Corps-32
Publication Date: May 25, 1983
Walter J. Cummins graduated from the Power for Abundant Class in 1962.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Ohio State University in 1968 and his Master of Education degree in Secondary School Administration in 1978 from Wright State University.
He was ordained to the Christian by The Way International in 1968. He has studied at The Way International under Victor Paul Wierwille and K.C.Pillai. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was director of the Research department of the Way International and served as assistant to the president.
May 25, 1983
Thirty-third Corps Night
The subject of II Cor. 8 & 9, is the grace, or ABS, because grace is used for ABS
throughout these chapters. It is that which was to be collected and sent to Jerusalem. The
collection is mentioned first of all in I Cor. 16:1-3 (liberality is the word, "grace.") Romans
15:25-27 (Corinth is in Achaia). Remember, here that poor saints refers to those living off
of the ABS according to need. By the time Romans was written both Macedonia and
Corinth had made their contribution. The collection for the saints did not start with the
Corinthians. It had been an integral part of the Church since the day of Pentecost. (Acts
2:44 & 45; 4:34-37; 11:29; Gal. 2:10.) The Apostle Paul did bring the ABS with him when
he came to Jerusalem (Rom. 15:26; Acts 24:17.) Alms is used for the ABS. The Greek
and Aramaic words for alms is related to the idea of mercy or withholding of merited
judgement. When you don't work you don't eat. So, when I give alms to someone I am
overriding that judgment, I am showing mercy to that individual. Same way with ABS.
(Although they're not doing something wrong, they're doing a lot of work in the ministry)
then that ABS is in the same category of giving to the poor saints - living on their need
according to the ABS received. "Poor saints," work for their needs rather than having
secular work.
Why is ABS discussed in II Cor. 8 & 9 in such detail? There is no other place in the N.T.
that is given so much space on this subject of ABS. In I Cor. he reproved them for their
error. In II Cor., so far, he has been encouraging them, boasting about them and
commending them of their positive response to the reproof that was given in I Cor.. The
focus in II Cor. 5 & 6, is that we as believers are workers together, ambassadors, traveling
through this world with the ministry of reconciliation. As such, we do not fellowship with
the unclean unbelievers, but we are to come out and be separate. The Corinthians were
therefore encouraged to enlarge their hearts of love, to relieve the pressure from their
hearts, by loving him - paying what they owed him. They had already proved themselves
pure in the matters at Corinth as he said in II Cor. 7:11. They needed the encouragement
to enlarge their hearts and be relieved after they had been reproved. However, there is one
thing left - and that is to show that their hearts are relieved . . . to show the love out of their
hearts, and the evidence of that love is ABS. ABS is the ultimate culmination of
fellowship. It shows a relieved heart of love. In II Cor. 8:8, "prove the sincerity of your
love." That is the purpose of ABS! II Cor. 8:24, proof of your love. The Corinthians did
love Paul; they went through all those changes. But now, they are to show that love. ABS
is the ultimate culmination of fellowship. And fellowship is sharing fully in all things.
When you share out of your abundance isn't that a part of sharing fully? Certainly!! To
give to a "good cause" is fellowship with unclean unbelievers. To give to the ministry of
God's Word is to fellowship with true believers as workers together.
The four remaining chapters of II Cor. deal with boasting and an answer of truth to the
unbelievers - that is, to those who have not responded to the reproof. Therefore, this
section (II Cor. 8 & 9) on abundant sharing is the final instruction and encouragement to
get back to believing rightly. I Cor. 16, closed with ABS. II Cor. 9:6,7, when you have
that relieved heart, a heart of love then you are going to share out of your heart.
II Cor. 9:12,13 - It not only supplies the needs of the saints, but it causes abundant
thanksgivings unto God.
II Cor. 9:15 - That is the ultimate in giving - that is the grace of God to its greatest degree.
186 II Corinthians
UII Cor. 8:1
"wit," - Old English for "know"
"grace of God," - Now, he closes II Cor. 9 with "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable
gift." That is THE grace of God. But what he is talking about in II Cor. 8 & 9, is the grace
as money, the ABS, what the believers shared out of their hearts, what they gave.
"bestowed," = given UbyU - NOT given UtoU.
The subject in these chapters is not the grace of God, from God down to them, but treating
money as the grace of God, calling it by that term, as he did in other places, and it is what
came from the Churches to Jerusalem.
"grace" is a term used for money to emphasize the favor with which it was given and God's
divine favor in return to the believer - because as you give you receive it multiplied back to
you many fold. And not only in the material realm, but physically, and in healing,
spiritually, and in many other ways it is multiplied back to you.
II Cor. 8:1 Literal according to usage:
Brothers we want you to know about the grace of God [ABS] given by the churches of
Macedonia.
UII Cor. 8:2
"trial" - the proof of experience. It is a test or trial implying a positive outcome. It
involves a search for purity rather than negatives.
"affliction," - normal word for pressure. It is specifically a genitive of content - in other
words - a great trial filled with pressures of life. The churches in Macedonia had
experienced pressure from the unbelievers also, just like they were at Corinth, and he is
using them as an example.
"deep poverty," - they were willing to give beyond their ability (Vs. 3) At this time in
history the city of Patrae and Corinth were the only real affluent cities in all of Macedonia
and Greece. Yet, the believers of Philippi, who, were not one of those affluent cities, still
sent support to Paul when he was in Thessalonica (Phil. 4:16) In spite of their lack of
affluence, in those cities, the believers still had the abundant life and they still were able to
share out of that abundance. They were willing to live on their needs in order to share of
their abundance. The Corinthians, who as a city, had the abundance to give were
procrastinating and not giving. The Word uses the example of the giving of the
Macedonians to exhort the Corinthians to give. Therefore, the believers in Macedonia
were not poverty stricken in the sense that they had great needs. That is not what this
"deep poverty," means. Because they gave willingly and freely and they had no excess or
accumulation of material goods. They were willing to live according to their needs.
"abundance of joy," = because they loved the Word and wanted to see the Word move out.
"riches," - is used idiomatically of a great quantity of whatever. Here it is the riches of
liberality.
"liberality," = in Greek and Aramaic means simplicity. Or it can be used of mental
honesty, the virtue of one who is free from pretence.
To be rich in simplicity would be willing to live on needs. Not to feel that you have to be
extravagant, have pluralities. That is what the Macedonians were doing - living on need,
giving of plurality.
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Phil. 4:19; Matt. 19:24 ("camel," = rope in the Aramaic);
I Tim. 6:17-19 (trust in uncertain riches.)
When someone wants to hold on to riches, it clogs up the machinery and they don't get a
lot done spiritually.
II Cor. 1:12 - Need varies upon individuals and what you are doing in the body, but still
they were not extravagant - the Macedonians or the Apostles. That is the example which
was being set for the Corinthians.
II Cor. 8:2 Literal according to usage:
Through much endurance of pressures, their constant joy and willingness to live
according to need have caused them to abound with the riches of simplicity
[liberality.]
UII Cor. 8:3
"record," = witness.
"beyond their power," = dunamis, they were willing to live on less in order to give more.
It doesn't mean they dug into their need, that would contradict verse 12. They could not be
giving of their need. This is a UhyperboleU. An exaggeration (FOS). It is like when we say,
he has given 110%. You cannot do that. It means they were really living on need and not
squandering money or abusing what they had materially, but they shared of their
pluralities.
"willing of themselves," = simply means willingly of one's own accord. They didn't do it
because they had to or were commanded to, but they did it willingly of their own free will.
"Willingly," only used in one other place, vs. 17.
II Cor. 8:3 Literal according to usage:
I am a witness that they [the Macedonians] were willing [to give] of their own ability
and even beyond their ability.
UII Cor. 8:4
"praying," = deomai, to make requests for a specific need.
"intreaty," - in the Greek it is encouragement. In the Aramaic, it is seeking. In the
Aramaic it is interesting because the word pray, is also to seek. They are related words:
"They sought us seeking."
"gift," = grace - used of money in this section.
"fellowship," = full sharing. The consummation of fellowship is abundant sharing.
The gift that they gave was indicative of the full sharing. Rom. 15:26 (contribution =
fellowship); II Cor. 9:13 (distribution = fellowship;) Gal. 6:6 (communicate = fellowship).
"saints," = specifically he is taking this to which saints? The one at Jerusalem. Romans
15:26.
II Cor. 8:4 Literal according to usage:
They insistently urged us that they would be allowed to share in the grace [participate
in giving] of ministering to the saints [at Jerusalem.]
II Cor. 8:4 Word by word from the Aramaic:
188 II Corinthians
They sought from us with much seeking that they could fellowship in the grace of the
ministry of the saints.
KJV and the Greek are sort of misleading — that we should fellowship. They wanted a
share in giving. They wanted a sharing in ministering to the saints. How do you get a
share in ministering to the saints at Jerusalem if you are out on the field? ABS is certainly
one way.
UII Cor. 8:5
"not as we hoped," = this phrase is misleading. Some translators say - not merely as we
expected, or not only as we expected. In other words, they went beyond what we expected.
"by," = in or according to.
First, they gave themselves to God then they gave themselves to us and the ministry, and
serving with their material goods, etc.
II Cor. 8:5 Literal according to usage:
And not only as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us
in the will of God.
UII Cor. 8:6
Paul had sent Titus to Corinth and Titus had just returned from Corinth. Now, he wants
Titus to go back and finish the work he started.
"finish," = complete
"grace," = ABS
II Cor. 8:6 Literal according to usage:
So we encouraged Titus, who already began to work with you, to bring this work of
grace [ABS] also to the point of success among you.
UII Cor. 8:7
It repeats this and expounds it just a little bit more.
"as ye abound in everything," - they had already proven themselves clear in the affair - just
one thing lacking - grace, ABS. They started to, but they did not have it in their hearts like
the Macedonians.
"faith," = believing
"utterance," = logos, the Word
"knowledge," = genosis
"diligence," = spoudē
Many "ands," = FOS, UpolysyndetonU.
"grace," = ABS
In the Renewed Mind Class, Walter taught the 7 laws of abundance. Only one of them is
not used here, and that is the law of hope which is in Romans 15:13:
1) The law of believing is that as you believe you receive.
2) The Word represents the law of learning. You cannot go beyond what you are taught.
May 25, 1983 - Thirty-third Corps Night 189
3) Knowledge does not represent just the knowledge in your head but the utilization of it.
Either you use it or lose it.
4) Diligence represents the efficiency with which you do it.
5) Love activates - it is what causes everything else to go into action.
6) Giving and receiving.
7) Law of hope.
When you are lacking in any one of these areas you do not reap the result. It is like the
fertility of the soil. If it is deficient in one element it does not produce the way that it is
supposed to.
II Cor. 8:7 Literal according to usage:
Therefore, as you abound in every work, namely believing, and the Word, and
knowledge, and diligence, and in you love to us, so you should abound in this grace
[ABS] also.
UII Cor. 8:8
"I speak not by commandment," = He was not going to give them a commandment. It is
still the Word, like speaking by permission and not by commandment, in I Cor. 7:6. He
was not giving them a law but he was encouraging them because of the diligence
(forwardness = spoudē) of others.
"sincerity" = genuineness
II Cor. 8:8 Literal according to usage:
I am not giving you a commandment, but I am proving through the diligence of other
believers, the genuineness of your love also.
The believers were the Macedonian believers.
UII Cor. 8:9
Here is another great example. It is not talking about Jesus Christ material poverty or
riches. Because he had his needs supplied and you know the record of his birth where the
wise men brought him those things; he had the ability to work; he grew up in a community
where you had to learn those things. He was not without means. But he was rich as a son
of God.
"Yet for your sakes he became poor," - How did he become poor? He became poor as a
servant - Phil. 2:6 & 7. He was rich, as the Son of God, but he became poor in the sense
that he became a servant.
"poverty," = as a servant - "rich" = as sons of God.
This is UparallelismU, a FOS, where you repeat the same ideas either in introversion or in
alternating line.
II Cor. 8:9 Literal according to usage:
You know the grace [generous giving] of our lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich
[the son of God] yet for you he became poor [servant]. So from his being poor
[servant] you were made rich [sons of God.]
190 II Corinthians
UII Cor. 8:10
"my" - Delete it. He is not giving his advice, he is giving God's advice. "advice," = UgnomeU,
the result of knowledge, utilizing the mind, thinking thoughts through.
"advice," = judgements, right decisions that come from utilizing such knowledge.
"but advising I advise," = The Aramaic literal, which has the FOS, UpolyptotonU.
"expedient," = profitable. A very key word in I Corinthians.
"begun before," = they had started to do it.
"forward," = willing, to intensely desire. At one time they were very excited about and
wanted to ABS but somehow the pressures or pleasures of life, or something got in the
way.
It takes leadership to build ABS in an area because the adversary will do the best he can to
get people not to ABS.
"a year ago," = when was I Cor. written? In the spring or summer from Ephesus. Here it
is the fall when he writes II Cor. from Macedonia. So it is not a whole year. A better
translation would be "last year." The Judean year and the Macedonian year started in the
fall. And the standard Roman Olympiad year began in the summer. So which system do
you want to use? So the new year had already started sometime between I Cor. & II Cor..
So, they were not using a normal Roman calendar because the normal Roman calendar
started in January. They were using either the Macedonian, Judean or Roman Olympiad
calendar. Walter thinks the Judean because of the Aramaic being the original language and
so many of the customs are expressed in Semitic terms rather than Greek or Roman.
UII Cor. 8:11
"readiness to will," = a longing desire, an eagerness to do it. Greek - prothumia, an
eagerness, an inclination. Read Mar/Apr. 1979, Way Magazine, "Will You Pray for My
Heartburn?"
"performance," = completion.
II Cor. 8:10, 11 Literals according to usage:
10. In this matter I give judgement, for this is for your profit. You were not only
willing but started to do it last year.
11. So now finish doing it as there was an eager desire [to ABS] so finish doing it
out of what you have.
UII Cor. 8:12
"willing mind," = prothumia
"accepted," = well pleasing.
II Cor. 8:12 Literal according to usage:
If a man is eager to do it [ABS] that is well pleasing [to God] as long as it is in
proportion to his ability, not his inability [to give.]
UII Cor. 8:13
"eased," - release or a relaxation of pressure
"burdened," = Pressure
May 25, 1983 - Thirty-third Corps Night 191
UII Cor. 8:14
"equality, = is like equal angles of an isosceles triangle where they are equal, not identical.
"Balance," would be a good word to use here.
"want," = need, lack, deficiency.
The repetition of words here is UparallelismU, FOS.
II Cor. 8:13, 14 Literals according to usage:
13. It [ABS] is not so others have relief and you have pressure but so there is a
balance.
14. At the present your abundance supplies their deficiency, so at other times their
abundance supplies your deficiency [to Jerusalem,] so there is a balance.
Where has the ABS always gone? In Acts, they laid it at the Apostles' feet, who made
distribution according to need. It wasn't that they gave to this person and that person, but
they collected it and sent it to Jerusalem, and then it was distributed from there. If there
was a deficiency from us to Jerusalem, then another area would supply that deficiency, so
the believers those who were serving the Word, always had their needs met. God always
supplies our need according to His riches in glory. That is why Paul could say in
Philippians that I am not losing for a gift, cause God supplies my need. I am looking for
fruit that abounds to your account! If we don't have our needs supplied from one area
some other area is going to supply that need, they are going to ABS. And as long as we
are faithful to the Word, we are going to get blessed. But, the problem is, you are not
going to get blessed.
That is why it is your deficiency to Jerusalem. Then there is a balance. But, what if you
are in a situation where you have a famine. Now, you do not have the material goods. You
are not starving, but you do not have the excess to ABS so much. But you still ABS from
what you have. But another area that does not have the famine ABS, and those that work
the Word can still live and move and share the Word. But if the famine switches from you
area to another area you can ABS more. There is still a balance. If the famine was so great
that you had trouble living to where it was really hurting, then the material abundance that
is supplied to Jerusalem could be supplied to other individuals as there is need.
UII Cor. 8:15
UgnomeU - from Ex. 16:18 referring to the gathering of manna which they gathered daily
except on the Sabbath and just enough manna for the family to eat cause it would not keep
overnight, except the night before the Sabbath. You would have enough, but nothing left
over.
II Cor. 8:15, 16 Literals according to usage:
15. As it is written, "He that gathered much had no excess, and he that gathered a
little did not lack."
16. Thanks be to God who put the same diligence in the heart of Titus for you,
UII Cor. 8:17
Did not do it cause he had to, but because he wanted to.
UII Cor. 8:18
"praise in the gospel," - doesn't mean anything else than they preached the Word.
192 II Corinthians
"all the churches," - He was still known including at Corinth. Who was he? Doesn't give
his name (Acts 20:4 & 5). There were a total of 8 people who traveled with Paul from
Corinth on his way back heading towards Jerusalem. It could have been one of those
eight.
UII Cor. 8:19
"Lord," - God in the Aramaic.
"your," = our
"ready mind," = encouragement
UII Cor. 8:20
So they could not say they took the money, so the ministry could not be criticized or
blamed.
UII Cor. 8:21
"providing for," = to care for, to take thought for.
"honest things," = good things - the valuables (ABS) they were taking to Jerusalem.
UII Cor. 8:22
"them," = was Titus and the brother who was approved of the churches to carry the ABS.
"I have," = he has
UII Cor. 8:23
"messengers," = apostles.
UII Cor. 8:24
In other words, ABS!!!
II Cor. 8:17-24 Literals according to usage:
17. For he accepted our encouragement and being very diligent he willingly is
returning to you.
18. And we are sending with him the brother who has been praised in [the ministry
of] the good news by all the churches.
19. In addition, he has been chosen by the churches to travel with us as we carry this
grace [ABS] to minister to the saints [at Jerusalem.]
20. In order to avoid anyone criticizing us regarding this extremely generous giving
ministered by us.
21. We take good care of the valuables, not only before God, but before men also.
22. With them [Titus and the brother] we have sent out brother whom we often have
proved diligent in many matters, and now who is even more diligent because of
his confident trust in you.
23. Regarding Titus, he is my partner and your fellow-worker, and our brothers are
the delegates [apostles] sent by the churches [to Jerusalem.] They are the glory
of Christ.
May 25, 1983 - Thirty-third Corps Night 193
24. Therefore, show them openly before all the churches, the proof of your love and
of our boasting on your behalf.
End of Teaching