2 Corinthians 8:4

4 begging of us with much entreaty [to give effect to] the grace and fellowship of the service which [was to be rendered] 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 in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their [free-hearted] liberality.

3 For according to [their] power, I bear witness, and beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of their own accord,

4 begging of us with much entreaty [to give effect to] the grace and fellowship of the service which [was to be rendered] to the saints.

5 And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.

6 So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;

Footnotes

• [a]. The 'grace' here is not the collection, but the grace and favour shown to the poor in the gift. Instead of Paul having to press this grace on the Macedonians, they beg of him the grace and fellowship (koinonia) of the administration; that is, to be the instrument (though an apostle) of its manifestation by them. The 'grace and fellowship' is the active exercise of grace towards the Jewish saints. This they begged of Paul. (See ver. 19.)