For those from Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
Truth to Learn
Christians are to give freely to support the church and to help other Christians in financial need.
Behind the Words
The word translated “poor” in the current verse is the Greek word ptochous, which refers to “someone in abject poverty, utter helplessness, or complete destitution.” In other words, the Christians in Jerusalem to whom Paul was taking the money were not poor, as in unfortunate, they were without money.
Meaning Explained
Paul was going to travel to Jerusalem before heading to Rome on his way to Spain. The purpose of that trip was to take a contribution for the Christians in Jerusalem. The main church in Achaia (southern Greece) was the church at Corinth. To this church Paul sent a couple of letters teaching them to overcome some of the doctrinal errors that were creeping into their congregation. What they didn’t need teaching about, though, was how to give willingly. Here’s what Paul told them:
Now there is noneed for me to write to about ministering to the saints; for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. (2Corinthians 9:1-2)
Paul also told these Corinthians about the generosity of the church in Macedonia (northern Greece):
Moreover, brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia: that in a severe test of affliction the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty abounded in the riches of their generosity. For I testify that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, begging us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (2Corinthians 8:1-4)
Both of these churches were eager to help the Church in Jerusalem and may even have been spurred on by Paul through a little friendly competition. These “poor” Christians in Jerusalem were most likely Jews who had been converted through the preaching of the apostles in the days following the outpouring of the Spirit of God at Pentecost. But because most of the Jews in Jerusalem refused to believe, they persecuted members of the church, even beating and stoning them. In the beginning of the eighth chapter of the book of Acts, Luke recorded how Saul of Tarsus persecuted Christians. This Saul of Tarsus later became the Apostle Paul who has written this letter.
According to Acts 20:22, Paul felt bound by the Spirit of God to make this trip to Jerusalem. It’s quite possible that his reason for wanting to minister to the saints in Jerusalem may also have been out a sense of guilt for what he had done to the Church in Jerusalem many years earlier.
Application
God has gifted some saints with the ability to give generously and freely. Not all of us have that gift, but that doesn’t release the rest of us from our responsibility to give. According to 2Corinthians 9:7, we are not to give grudgingly or out of necessity. God loves a cheerful giver! Do you give out of joy?
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved