The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 19, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 32.

The Sunday School

International Series.

Lesson X.—Sunday, September 5, 1897.

GENTILES GIVING FOR JEWISH CHRISTIANS.

NOTE.—It is suggested that the whole of 2 Corinthians be read at one sitting if possible. “Paul had been attacked bitterly at Corinth with every weapon of fanatical hatred; his character had been slandered by Judaic teachers. Now Paul had a human heart, not an artificial one; and he did not even pretend that such calumnies did not sting and wound him. They stung him, and all the more because they came upon him at a time of great mental discouragement and physical prostration (2 Cor. 4:8–12; 12:7, 10). It was Paul’s defense of his life and conduct.”—Farrar. And yet this defense is not made from motives of a personal or selfish nature, but that the “glorious Gospel of Christ” which he preached might “shine forth” in its true light. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Cor. 4:5. The lesson section includes the whole of 2 Corinthians, especially chapters 9 and 10. The time of this epistle is the autumn of A.D. 57, or early in A.D. 58.

Lesson Scripture, 2 Cor. 9:1–11, R. V.

1 “For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous 2 for me to write to you; for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up 3 very many of them. But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; 4 that, even as I said, ye may be prepared; lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence. I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion. 6 “But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, 9 may abound unto every good work: as it is written, “He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth forever.” 10 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase 11 the fruits of your righteousness; ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.”

Golden Text.—“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) In the performance of what Christian virtue did the Corinthian church need no urging? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) Of what quality in the Corinthians had Paul boasted to the Macedonians? Verse 2. (3) What good work had their zeal in this matter accomplished? Same verse. Note 2. (4) Lest Paul’s boasting in this matter should be groundless, what action had he taken? Verse 3. (5) What would the sending of “the brethren” to them do for them against the time of Paul’s visit? Same verse. Note 3. (6) How would the apostles feel if the Corinthians had waned in their liberality? Verse 4. Note 4. (7) What did he, therefore, think it necessary to do? Verse 5. (8) What would be their work on arriving at Corinth? Same verse. (9) How should the contributions of the church for such objects be regarded? Same verse. Note 5. (10) What proverb did Paul quote in regard to the covetous individual? Verse 6. (11) What in regard to the liberal man? Same verse. (12) What law should govern giving? Verse 7. (13) What kind of giving is not desirable? Same verse. (14) How does the Lord look upon the one who gives in the right spirit? Same verse. Note 6. (15) What is God able to do for his children? Verse 8. (16) What would such grace enable them to do? Same verse. (17) What is written of those who have blessed others with their bounty? Verse 9. (18) What would be the result of their faithfulness in supplying the wants of others? Verse 10. (19) With what promise does the verse close? Note 7. (20) What would be the condition of a church thus faithful? Verse 11. (21) What would this cause on the part of the apostles? Same verse.

NOTES.

1. Ministering to the saints.—At the great conference in Jerusalem it had been suggested that the Gentile Christians who were well to do should contribute to the poor at Jerusalem. Paul was at this time taking up a collection in Macedonia for this purpose, and intended to take the Corinthian contributions with him to Jerusalem at the same time. Paul had before taken a contribution to the church at Jerusalem from the church at Antioch.

2. Hath stirred up many.—Not to wrath, but to good works—to this very work of ministering to the poor of the church. Achaia, Greece, of which Corinth was the chief city. It is apparent that a year previous, when the matter was proposed, the Corinthian church was very zealous in this work and had promised freely.

3. That our glorying . . . may not be made void.—For this reason Paul had sent Titus and his two companions on before to remind them of their pledges. “What a slur upon them, what an evil example to others, what humiliation to himself, if their generosity should be but wind and clouds of promise without the rain of good deeds!”—Peloubet. Paul had been using their promises of liberality to influence others to be liberal.

4. We (that we say not, ye) should not be ashamed.—“Observe the delicacy of the mode in which the hint is given. Paul makes it a matter of personal anxiety, as if the shame and fault of non-payment would be his. Thereby he appealed not to their selfish but to their most unselfish feelings.”—Robertson.

5. As a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.—As a blessing freely bestowed. Paul did not wish them to feel that he was extorting the contribution from them, wringing it from covetous hearts; and yet if their zeal had waned in this matter, he would not hesitate to remind them of the opportunity and the needs, as is evidenced by his sending the brethren to them for this special purpose.

6. God loveth a cheerful giver.—The word from which “cheerful” is translated is hilaron, and might have been translated “hilarious.” “God loves a whole-hearted, ‘hilarious’ giver—one who is not ashamed of the cause for which he gives. To the sense of duty from the law of Christian service, shall we not, by God’s help, add this crowning grace and spontaneous, hearty, hilarious, Christian giving of time and money for the cause of our Master?”—Gates.

7. Increase the fruits of your righteousness.—The fruits of your right-doing. According to the reading of the Revised Version this is a promise, not a prayer for them. In multiplying their means of liberality the seed of their good deeds was multiplied, and an increased harvest of good deeds, of right-doing, of righteousness, must be the result.