2 Corinthians 8:4

4 requesting of us with much exhortation the favor and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints,

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 that with a great ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extreme depth of their poverty have overflowed to the wealth of their generosity.

3 I testify that [they gave] according to [their] ability, and beyond [their] ability, by their own choice,

4 requesting of us with much exhortation the favor and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints,

5 and not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and [then] to us, by the will of God.

6 So we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun [it], thus he would also complete for you this [act of] grace.