Episode Synopsis:

Paul expressed concern that the Corinthian church would not have their offering ready upon his upcoming visit to Corinth. As we saw last time, this offering had two important purposes. The first was that there was a genuine need in Jerusalem as a result of an extended famine. Gentile churches in Macedonia and Achaia were spared from the famine and had the means to send a significant gift to the struggling church in Jerusalem. The second reason this mattered was that once the debate over justification had been settled at the Jerusalem Council, Jewish Christians accepted Gentile believers as their brothers and sisters–but there was still tension between the two groups who had a long and mutual history of distrust. An offering from Gentile Christians during a time of great need in the mother church would go a long way to alleviate these tensions.

But as we read in chapter 9–a continuation of the previous section of 2 Corinthians–it became clear that although the Corinthians planned to collect such an offering previously, they never followed through on their promise to contribute. Paul was in Macedonia when word came from Corinth that the offering was not ready. Apparently, Paul’s critics and opponents in Corinth raised questions about both Paul’s integrity and the true purpose of the offering. Meanwhile, Paul had been telling the Macedonians (literally boasting) that the Corinthians promised to do likewise. The Macedonians gave beyond their means assuming the Corinthians would do the same. The Corinthians hadn’t yet given at all. This was shameful and embarrassing to all concerned.

In chapter 9, Paul discusses the proper motives behind Christian charity. He does away with the tithe and reminds his readers that Christians are to give as much as they can–if they can do so freely and joyfully. He tells the Corinthians that Christians do not “give to get”–no prosperity gospel here. Rather they are to give what they can when there is a genuine need. The model for such giving is God’s grace as manifest in the cross of Jesus Christ, the proof that God loves us and cares for us. Christian giving does not appease an angry god (as the pagans taught), it does not ensure that we’ll prosper financially or regain health (as the prosperity gospelers claim), and giving is always to be done simply because it is good to give–especially to those in need. While there is a spiritual blessing for the cheerful giver, the Christian offering is but an act of gratitude in response to the inexpressible gift God has given to us in the person of his son.

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