How does Paul urge completion and guard administration?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Willingness and available means qualify the appeal; Titus and brothers are sent with a stated concern to avoid blame before God and men.

Chapter breakdown

Paul reports God’s grace in Macedonian churches: tribulation, abundant joy and deep poverty abounding in simplicity. The printed note defines simplicity as sincere bounty and charity. He witnesses willingness according to and beyond their power, much entreaty to share saints’ ministry, and giving themselves first to the Lord then to him by God’s will, beyond what was hoped. This does not specify the amount actually transferred or a famine. Titus was requested to finish among readers what he began. As readers abound in faith, word, knowledge, care and charity, they should abound in this grace.

Paul is not commanding but approving charity by others’ care. Jesus Christ, rich, became poor for their sake so they might be rich; infinite heavenly riches and a particular economic mechanism are not separately explained. Paul advises those who began doing and willing a year ago to complete from what they have. The text does not say they were first. A ready will is accepted according to what one has, not lacks. Others should not be eased by burdening readers; present abundance supplies others’ want so others’ abundance may supply theirs, for equality. The written much-without-excess/little-without-want comparison is given without an explicit manna identification in this span or guaranteed future repayment.

God put care for readers in Titus’s heart. He accepted exhortation and went of his own will. With him Paul sent a brother praised in the gospel throughout churches and ordained by churches as travel companion for administering grace to the Lord’s glory and their determined will. Paul explains avoiding blame for this abundance and forecasting good before God and men. This is a stated precaution, not proof that suspicion was eliminated; the source does not prescribe audited ledgers or identify malicious detractors.

Another brother sent with them had often proved diligent, now more so with confidence in readers. Titus is Paul’s companion and fellow labourer; the brethren apostles of churches and Christ’s glory. Readers should show charity and Paul’s boasting evidence before churches. Only the first unnamed brother is explicitly said to be ordained by churches here; the second should not silently be given the same appointment history. No final collection completion or successful delivery is narrated.

The story inside

Willing beyond power is not a quantified transfer, begun-a-year-ago is not first, and the companions’ distinct credentials are preserved. Avoiding blame is an aim, not a guaranteed outcome.

Lessons worth keeping

1
A ready will is accepted according to what one has.
2
Paul says advice rather than command.
3
Good is forecast before God and men.

Test your recall

What stated concern accompanies the sent travel companion?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 131305–131321
8:1. Now we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of God that hath been given in the churches of Macedonia. 8:2. That in much experience of tribulation, they have had abundance of joy and their very deep poverty hath abounded unto the riches of their simplicity. Simplicity.... That is, sincere bounty and charity. 8:3. For according to their power (I bear them witness) and beyond their power, they were willing: 8:4. With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints. 8:5. And not as we hoped: but they gave their own selves, first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God;
Lines 131330–131335
8:8. I speak not as commanding: but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity. 8:9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor for your sakes: that through his poverty you might be rich.
Lines 131344–131355
8:12. For if the will be forward, it is accepted according to that which a man hath: not according to that which he hath not. 8:13. For I mean not that others should be eased and you burdened, but by an equality. 8:14. In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may supply your want: that there may be an equality, 8:15. As it is written: He that had much had nothing over; and he that had little had no want.
Lines 131366–131374
8:19. And not that only: but he was also ordained by the churches companion of our travels, for this grace, which is administered by us, to the glory of the Lord and our determined will: 8:20. Avoiding this, lest any man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us. 8:21. For we forecast what may be good, not only before God but also before men.