2 Corinthians 8:4

4 They made an appeal to us, begging us to let them participate in the ministry of God's kindness to his holy people [in Jerusalem].

2 Corinthians 8:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 8:4

Praying us with much entreaty
They not only gave freely, being unasked by the apostles; but they sought to them, and earnestly entreated them,

that they would receive the gift;
the beneficence, what they had so freely and generously collected: and

the fellowship of the ministering to the saints;
what they had communicated for the service of the poor saints at Jerusalem, in which they testified their having and holding fellowship with the churches of Christ; and that they would receive it at their hands, and take it upon them, and carry it to Jerusalem, and distribute to the poor saints there, as should seem to them most proper and convenient; which they accordingly agreed to; see ( Romans 15:25 Romans 15:26 ) .

2 Corinthians 8:4 In-Context

2 While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous.

3 I assure you that by their own free will they have given all they could, even more than they could afford.

4 They made an appeal to us, begging us to let them participate in the ministry of God's kindness to his holy people [in Jerusalem].

5 They did more than we had expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord and to us, since this was God's will.

6 This led us to urge Titus to finish his work of God's kindness among you in the same way as he had already started it.