Reading for November 16th

Read 2 Corinthians 8.1-15
In 8.1-9.15: The collection.
In 8.1-7: Macedonian generosity.
In verse 1: Churches of Macedonia probably means Philippi, Thessalonica, and Beroea, (Acts 16-17).
In verse 2: Severe ordeal: the founding of these churches has met stiff resistance (1 Thess 1.6; 3.1-5; Phil 1.29-30).
In verses 5-6: Privilege translates "charis," used several times in chs. 8-9, for the collection itself (vv. 6-7, 19).
Since it designates both God's generosity (8.1; 9.14) and Christ's generous act (8.9), it properly describes the collection as a concrete expression of good will toward others.
In verse 7: Earlier Paul commended their possession of these gifts (1 Cor 1.5-7).
In verses 8-15: Christ's generosity.
In verse 8: Genuineness of your love may be their love for Christ (5.14).
In verse 9: Christ is similarly portrayed in the early Christian hymn in Phil 2.5-11, where he also serves as an example for Christian behavior.
In verses 10-11: Paul had given instructions about the collection in 1 Cor 16.1-4.
In verses 12-14: The principle of fair balance can be expressed another way: Since Jews have bestowed a spiritual blessing on gentiles, they are entitled to receive a physical blessing (financial support) from gentiles (Rom 15.27).
In verse 15: Ex 16.18.
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