2 Corinthians 8 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

We declare to you the grace of God — Which evidently appeared by this happy effect.

In a great trial of affliction — Being continually persecuted, harassed, and plundered.

Praying us with much entreaty — Probably St. Paul had lovingly admonished them not to do beyond their power.

And not as we hoped — That is, beyond all we could hope. They gave themselves to us, by the will of God — In obedience to his will, to be wholly directed by us.

As he had begun — When he was with you before.

For ye know — And this knowledge is the true source of love. The grace — The most sincere, most free, and most abundant love. He became poor — In becoming man, in all his life; in his death. Rich — In the favour and image of God.

A man — Every believer. Is accepted — With God. According to what he hath — And the same rule holds universally. Whoever acknowledges himself to be a vile, guilty sinner, and, in consequence of this acknowledgment, flies for refuge to the wounds of a crucified Saviour, and relies on his merits alone for salvation, may in every circumstance of life apply this indulgent declaration to himself.

That their abundance — If need should so require. May be — At another time. A supply to your want: that there may be an equality — No want on one side, no superfluity on the other. It may likewise have a further meaning: — that as the temporal bounty of the Corinthians did now supply the temporal wants of their poor brethren in Judea, so the prayers of these might be a means of bringing down many spiritual blessings on their benefactors: so that all the spiritual wants of the one might be amply supplied; all the temporal of the other.

As it is written, He that had gathered the most had nothing over; and he that had gathered the least did not lack — That is, in which that scripture is in another sense fulfilled. Exodus 16:18

Being more forward — Than to need it, though he received it well.

We — I and Timothy. The brother — The ancients generally supposed this was St. Luke. Whose praise — For faithfully dispensing the gospel, is through all the churches.

He was appointed by the churches — Of Macedonia. With this gift — Which they were carrying from Macedonia to Jerusalem. For the declaration of our ready mind — That of Paul and his fellow — traveller, ready to be the servants of all.

With them — With Titus and Luke. Our brother — Perhaps Apollos.

My partner — In my cares and labours. The glory of Christ — Signal instruments of advancing his glory.

Before the churches — Present by their messengers.