Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 8:4
Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
4. intreaty ] Monestynge, Wiclif; instaunce, Tyndale. Exhortation, Rhemish. See note on ch. 2Co 1:3.
that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship ] A more literal rendering would be, praying of us the gift and fellowship (perhaps we may take this as a Hebraism, meaning ‘the favour of the fellowship’), i.e. that the Apostle would allow them to take part in the good work. The word here translated gift is the same which is usually translated grace in the N.T. See note on ch. 2Co 1:12. And the words ‘that we would receive’ are not in the best MSS. and versions.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Praying us with much entreaty – Earnestly entreating me to receive the contribution and convey it to the poor and afflicted saints in Judea.
And take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints – Greek, that we would take the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. They asked of us to take part in the labor of conveying it to Jerusalem. The occasion of this distress which made the collection for the saints of Judea necessary, was probably the famine which was predicted by Agabus, and which occurred in the time of Claudius Caesar; see note on Act 11:28. Barnabas was associated with Paul in conveying the contribution to Jerusalem; Act 6:30. Paul was unwilling to do it unless they particularly desired it, and he seems to have insisted that some person should be associated with him; 2Co 8:20; 1Co 16:3-4.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Praying us with much entreaty] We had not to solicit them to this great act of kindness; they even entreated us to accept their bounty, and to take on ourselves the administration or application of it to the wants of the poor in Judea.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Bringing what they had freely collected amongst themselves to the apostles, and importuning them to receive it at their hands, and to take upon them the work of distributing it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. that we would receiveomittedin the oldest manuscripts. Translate therefore, “Beseeching ofus . . . the grace and fellowship of (that is, to grant them thefavor of sharing in) the ministering unto the saints.” TheMacedonian contributions must have been from Philippi, becausePhilippi was the only church that contributed to Paul’s support(Phi 4:10; Phi 4:15;Phi 4:16).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 Ro 15:25.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Beseeching us with much intreaty in regard of this grace ( ). Literally, “with much intreaty begging of us the favour and the partnership in the ministry to the saints.” The accusative () after is unusual. By Paul means the privilege of giving (cf. Ac 24:27). Apparently Paul had been reluctant to press the Macedonians because of their manifest poverty. They demanded the right to have a share in it.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Praying us – that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship [ ] . Rev., beseeching us, etc., in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering. The Greek reads simply, praying us for the favor and the fellowship of the ministry. The renderings of both A. V. and Rev. are clumsy. Paul means that they earnestly besought him as a favor that they might have a share in ministering to the poor saints. Cariv means grace, gift, and favor. Here the last.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Praying us with much entreaty “ (meta polles parakleseos deomenoi hemon) “requesting of us, with urgent beseeching,” or appealing. The Macedonia brethren did not wait to be asked to give to their brethren in need, but asked to be allowed the privilege, Act 20:30.
2) “That we would receive the gift,” (ten charin) “The grace-gift ministry to receive;” 1Co 16:1; 1Co 16:3-4. “That we would do our share by carrying and distributing their charitable gifts to the place of their need, in the Jerusalem area.
3) “And take upon us the fellowship of the ministering “ (kai ten koinonian tes diakonias tes) “And receive or take upon us the common ministry of ministering,” helping solicit and secure help in the international transport of financial aid to the Jerusalem church; A primary duty of the (Gk. diakonia) was administration of alms or charitable gifts. Act 6:1; Act 11:29; Rom 15:25; Rom 15:21.
4) “To the saints,” (eis tous hagious) “to the saints,” or holy ones, in impoverishing circumstances in the Jerusalem church, Act 24:17.
CHARITABLE GIVING
“Proportion thy charity to the strength of thy estate, lest God proportion thy estate to the weakness of thy charity. Let the lips of the poor be the trumpet of thy gift, lest in seeking applause thou lose thy reward. Nothing is more pleasing to God than an open hand and a closed mouth.”
-Quarles
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
4. Beseeching us with much entreaty. He enlarges upon their promptitude, inasmuch as they did not only not wait for any one to admonish them, but even besought those, by whom they would have been admonished, had they not anticipated the desires of all by their activity. (666) We must again repeat the comparison formerly made between the less and the greater. “If the Macedonians, without needing to be besought, press forward of their own accord, nay more, anticipate others by using entreaties, how shameful a thing is it for the Corinthians to be inactive, more especially after being admonished! If the Macedonians lead the way before all, how shameful a thing is it for the Corinthians not, at least, to imitate their example! But what are we to think, when, not satisfied with beseeching, they added to their requests earnest entreaty, and much of it too?” Now from this it appears, that they had besought, not as a mere form, but in good earnest.
That the favor and the fellowship. The term favor he has made use of, for the purpose of recommending alms, though at the same time the word may be explained in different ways. This interpretation, however, appears to me to be the more simple one; because, as our heavenly Father freely bestows upon us all things, so we ought to be imitators of his unmerited kindness in doing good, (Mat 5:45); or at least, because, in laying out our resources, we are simply the dispensers of his favor. The fellowship of this ministry consisted in his being a helper to the Macedonians in this ministry. They contributed of their own, that it might be administered to the saints. They wished, that Paul would take the charge of collecting it.
(666) “ Le desir et la solicitation de tous par leur diligence et promptitude;” — “The desire and solicitation of all by their diligence and promptitude.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Praying us with much intreaty . . .The words that we would receive are not in the Greek, which literally runs: asking of us the grace (or favour) and fellowship in the ministry of the saints, i.e., asking to be allowed to share in it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
Ver. 4. Receive the gift ] Gr. , the grace, i.e. the alms; it being of God’s free grace that we have, 1. What to give; 2. Hearts to give it. For naturally we are all like children, which though they have their bosoms, mouths, and both hands full, yet are loth to part with any.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Praying = Asking. Greek. deomai. App-134.
with. Greek. meta. App-104.
intreaty = exhortation. Greek. paraklesis. See Act 4:36, and Act 13:15,
that we would receive. The texts omit, and read, “asking of us the gift and fellowship”.
gift = grace. As in 2Co 8:1
ministering = ministry. Greek. diakonia, App-190.
to = unto. Greek. eis. App-104.
saints. See Act 9:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Co 8:4. , beseeching [praying]) They had been affectionately admonished by Paul, not to do beyond their power. The Macedonians on the other hand besought [prayed], namely, that their gift might be received.- ,[45] grace and fellowship[46]) a Hendiadys.
[45] Rec. Text adds after the words . But BCD()Gfg Vulg. omit them.-ED.
[46] = their free gift of fellowship to be ministered to.-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Co 8:4
2Co 8:4
beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:-They not only moved in it without persuasion from Paul, but they did it of their own will, then besought Paul to take their bounty to Jerusalem and see that it was distributed to the saints that needed it.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
that: 2Co 8:18, 2Co 8:19, Gen 33:10, Gen 33:11, 2Ki 5:15, 2Ki 5:16, Act 16:15, 1Co 16:3, 1Co 16:4
the ministering: 2Co 9:1, 2Co 9:12-14, Mat 10:42, Mat 12:50, Mat 25:40, Mat 25:44, Mat 25:45, Mar 14:7, Joh 19:26, Joh 19:27, Act 6:1-7, Act 9:39-41, Act 11:29, Act 24:17, Rom 15:25, Rom 15:26, 1Co 16:1, 1Co 16:3, 1Co 16:4, 1Co 16:15, Gal 2:10, Gal 6:10, 1Ti 5:10, Phm 1:5, Phm 1:6, Heb 6:10, 1Jo 3:16-18
Reciprocal: Jdg 5:9 – offered Isa 14:2 – and the house Isa 60:9 – thy sons Rom 15:31 – and that 2Co 8:6 – grace Gal 2:9 – fellowship
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Co 8:4. The sincere interest those churches had in the matter was indicated by their insisting upon Paul to receive their contribution, that he might pass it on to the needy ones. Fellowship is from the same Greek word that is used in Act 2:42, and means partnership, or a sharing of something with another.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Verse 4 They then begged Paul to deliver the money to those in need in Jerusalem.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 4
The fellowship of the ministering, &c.; the charge of conveying the contribution to those for whom it was intended.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the {d} gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
(d) He calls that “gift” which other men would have called a burden. And this verse is to be explained by 2Co 8:6 .