2 Corinthians 8:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul tells the Corinthians about the grace of God at work in the churches of Macedonia.
What Does 2 Corinthians 8:1 Mean?
Paul opens a new appeal, calling the Corinthians 'brethren' and inviting them to 'wit,' that is, to know, something remarkable. He points north to the believers in Macedonia, congregations like Philippi and Thessalonica, and frames what he is about to describe not as their achievement but as 'the grace of God bestowed' upon them. Before a single act of generosity is mentioned, its true source is named.
By calling their giving a work of grace, Paul lifts the whole subject above mere fundraising. What these poorer churches did was first something God did in them. The same grace that saves also stirs the heart to open the hand. Paul wants the Corinthians to see generosity not as a burden laid on them, but as a gift of God they are invited to share.
2 Corinthians 8:1 in the Original Language
charis (χάρις), 'grace' -- the favor of God that both saves and moves the heart to give freely.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 8:1
What does 2 Corinthians 8:1 mean?
Paul tells the Corinthians about the grace of God at work in the churches of Macedonia.