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First-century Corinth was known for its wealth, luxury, and multicultural life. Paul visited Corinth twice, staying 21 months (Acts 18:11, 20:3). He also wrote two letters to the Corinthian church recorded in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Paul instructed the church regarding the love offering for the poor believers in Jerusalem (cf. Rom. 15:25). In today’s reading, Paul raised the topic again.
He began by praising the generosity of the Macedonian churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea (vv. 1-5). Their offering was a response to God’s grace. Like Christians in Jerusalem, the Macedonian believers faced persecution resulting in social and economic ostracism. Though they were persecuted and impoverished, Paul described them as overflowing with joy and their gift as abundant. They even begged for the privilege of giving toward the offering. The Corinthian church had also committed to contributing to the collection (vv. 6, 10-11). Paul wrote to encourage them to fulfill their promise—and to test their sincerity (v. 8).
Do not only emulate the Macedonian churches, Paul urged. Imitate Christ’s grace of giving (v. 9). Christ left the rich glory with the Father and became poor human flesh so that we might one day share in God’s glory. Christ gave Himself sacrificially and voluntarily. Paul wanted the Corinthians to do the same.
Verses 10 through 12 portray three characteristics of the grace of giving: willingness, follow-through, and giving according to one’s means. As Christianity grew beyond Jerusalem, Paul urged the same kind of sharing and caring for one another’s needs exemplified in the early Jerusalem church (Acts 2:42-47) and among God’s people in the wilderness (Ex. 16:18). Throughout the discussion of grace and giving that pervade today’s passage, ultimately, it is God’s grace that gives way to the church’s act of grace in giving toward fellow believers.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Often we are uncomfortable when Christian workers talk about money, perhaps because we think about money and giving in ways incongruent with God’s grace. Paul teaches that we can give generously precisely because God gives generously (vv. 1, 9) and He provides abundantly for all our needs (2 Cor. 9:8; Phil. 4:20). When we see giving as an opportunity to join God’s ministry locally and globally (2 Cor. 8:4; cf. Phil. 1:5, 4:15), we will beg for this privilege like the Macedonian Christians did.
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