The apostle reminds them of charitable contributions for the poor saints
The grace of God must be owned as the root and fountain of all the good in us, or done by us, at any time. It is great grace and favor from God, if we are made useful to others, and forward to any good work. He commends the charity of the Macedonians. So far from needing that Paul should urge them, they prayed him to receive the gift. Whatever we use or lay out for God, it is only giving him what is his own. All we give for charitable uses, will not be accepted of God, nor turn to our advantage, unless we first give ourselves to the Lord. By ascribing all really good works to the grace of God, we not only give the glory to him whose due it is, but also show men where their strength is. Abundant spiritual joy enlarges men’s hearts in the work and labor of love. How different this from the conduct of those who will not join in any good work, unless urged into it!
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-6
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to [their] power, I bear record, yea, and beyond [their] power [they were] willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And [this they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
Paul wants the believers to know about the extraordinary way "the grace of God" has been demonstrated among the Christians in the "churches of Macedonia" (Northern Greece). Philippi and Thessaloniki were two of these cities where churches had been established.
These Macedonians particularly showed through their generosity that they had received "the grace of God."
These Macedonians particularly showed through their generosity that they had received "the grace of God."
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-05-06 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
Having encouraged the Corinthians with these praises, Paul now turns to exhortation once more. He wants to encourage them to give alms, but instead of saying so directly, he prepares the ground by talking about the highest things first.
 | Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
How that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy. Do you see his wisdom? For he says not first, that which he wishes; but another thing before it, that he may not seem to do this of set purpose , but to arrive at it by a different connection. In much proof of affliction. This was what he said in his Epistle to the Macedonians themselves, You became imitators of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost; and again, From you sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place, your faith to God-ward is gone forth. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 But what is, in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy? Both, he says, happened to them in excess; both the affliction and the joy. Wherefore also the strangeness was great that so great an excess of pleasure sprang up to them out of affliction. For in truth the affliction not only was not the parent of grief, but it even became unto them an occasion of gladness; and this too, though it was great. Now this he said, to prepare them to be noble and firm in their trials. For they were not merely afflicted, but so as also to have become approved by their patience: yea rather, he says not by their patience, but what was more than patience, joy. And neither said he joy simply, but abundance of joy, for it sprang up in them, great and unspeakable. 3. And their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. Again, both these with excessiveness. For as their great affliction gave birth to great joy, yea, abundance of joy, so their great poverty gave birth to great riches of alms. For this he showed, saying, abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For munificence is determined not by the measure of what is given, but by the mind of those that bestow it. Wherefore he nowhere says, 'the richness of the gifts,' but the riches of their liberality. Now what he says is to this effect; 'their poverty not only was no impediment to their being bountiful, but was even an occasion to them of abounding, just as affliction was of feeling joy. For the poorer they were, the more munificent they were and contributed the more readily.' Wherefore also he admires them exceedingly, for that in the midst of so great poverty they had displayed so great munificence. For their deep, that is, 'their great and unspeakable,' poverty, showed their liberality. But he said not 'showed,' but abounded; and he said not liberality, but riches of liberality; that is, an equipoise to the greatness of their poverty, or rather much outweighing it, was the bountifulness they displayed. Then he even explains this more clearly,
| Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
Having encouraged them with these encomiums, he again tries exhortation. For on this account he mingled these praises with his rebuke, that he might not by proceeding from rebuke to exhortation make what he had to say ill received; but having soothed their ears, might by this means pave the way for his exhortation. For he purposes to discourse of almsgiving; wherefore also he says beforehand, I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you; by their past good works, making them the more ready to this duty also. And he said not at once, 'Therefore give alms,' but observe his wisdom, how he draws from a distance and from on high the preparation for his discourse. For he says, I make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the Churches of Macedonia. For that they might not be uplifted he calls what they did grace; and while relating what others did he works greater zeal in them by his encomiums on others. And he mentions together two praises of the Macedonians, or rather three; namely, that they bear trials nobly; and that they know how to pity; and that, though poor, they had displayed profuseness in almsgiving, for their property had been also plundered. And when he wrote his Epistle to them, it was as signifying this that he said, For you became imitators of the Churches of God which are in Judæa, for you also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 Hear what he said afterwards in writing to the Hebrews, For you took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions. Hebrews 10:34 But He calls what they did grace, not in order to keep them humble merely; but both to provoke them to emulation and to prevent what he said from proving invidious. Wherefore he also added the name of brethren so as to undermine all envious feeling; for he is about to praise them in high-flown terms. Listen, at least, to his praises. For having said, I make known to you the grace of God, he said not 'which has been given in this or that city,' but praises the entire nation, saying, in the Churches of Macedonia. Then he details also this same grace.
| Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
Of doctrine, and neither receiving addition nor
 | Author: Irenaeus of Lyons Rank: Bishop AD: 202 |
Paul says that they had received the grace of God because they accepted the word of faith devoutly. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
 | Author: Ambrosiaster Rank: Author AD: 400 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
