2 Corinthians 8


2 Corinthians 8 is the eighth chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It was written by Paul the Apostle and Timothy in Macedonia in 55–56 CE. This chapter and the next one "are devoted entirely to the topic of generous giving". Both chapters have figured prominently in academic discussion about "the fragmentation of 2 Corinthians", although "partition theories have not seemed convincing to everyone".

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 24 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
  • Papyrus 46
  • Codex Vaticanus
  • Codex Sinaiticus
  • Codex Alexandrinus
  • Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus
  • Codex Freerianus
  • Codex Claromontanus.

    Old Testament references

  • :.

    Verse 9

While noting that the word "grace" could be used, the Jerusalem Bible translates την χαριν του κυριου ημων ιησου as "how generous the Lord Jesus was".
"Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor": Pope Leo XIV observes that in this verse, Paul provides a summary of Jesus' mission in a "customarily brief but striking manner". In a longer note, the Baptist theologian John Gill comments that, from having the fullness of the Godhead in Him, for the sake of human beings, Jesus had become human and was exposed to outward poverty, born of poor parents, had no place to lay His head, was ministered to by others, had nothing to bequeath His mother at His death, but had to commit her to the care of one of His disciples; fulfilled the prophecies of Him, that He should be "poor" and "low".

Verses 16-17

Paul emphasises here Titus' independence. An existing relationship between Titus and the Corinthians church is presupposed. Titus went to Corinth in response to Paul's exhortation that he should do so, and yet, even if he had not been asked, he would have gone.

Verse 18

For many Church Fathers, such as Pseudo-Ignatius, John Chrysostom, Jerome Pelagius, Oecumenius, this verse refers to Luke and his gospel. Many mainstream Bible scholars have expressed doubt about whether Luke was actually the author of the gospel which bears his name. Others considered as "the brother", among "innumerable guesses", include Silas, Barnabas, or "an actual brother of Titus".

Collection for the Judean Saints

"Next to his ministry of preaching to the Gentiles, Paul's most important activity during his ministry was to collect money for the poor in Jerusalem." Paul confirms in that this was a part of his ministry which he considered important and endorsed by the leaders of the church in Jerusalem.