Ministering to the Saints through Gifts 2 Corinthians 8:4

Paul the apostle and his companions shared how the churches in Macedonia “bear record, yes, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves”,and in chapter eight and verse four of Second Corinthians, Paul shared how the churches in Macedonia were involved in, “ministering to the saints” through “gifts” where we read:

Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift,

and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

The verse begins, “Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, ...” Paul began with the words, “praying us” which means “desiring, longing for, asking for and making supplication to Paul and his companions” “with much entreaty” which means “with large and great calling near, summoning, importation, supplication, admonition and encouragement” “that we would receive” or “so Paul and his companions would take with the hand, hold, embrace and get” “the gift” which means “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, loving-kindness and favor”. Paul recalled how the churches in Macedonia desired for Paul and his companions to “receive” the “loving-kindness and favor” they collected for them.

The verse continues, “... and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.” Paul added the words, “and take upon us the fellowship” which is all one Greek word “koinōnia” and means “association, community, communion, joint participation and intercourse” “of the ministering” or “of the service and relief” “to the saints” which refers to “the pure, morally blameless or religiously and ceremonially consecrated”. Paul and his companions “took upon themselves” the “association and community” that is associated with “serving” the “saints” of God.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how the church in Macedonia desired for he and his companions to receive not only their “gift” but also their “loving fellowship”. These church members exemplified the way believers in Jesus should be toward one another and particularly toward leaders who govern over them. Jesus Christ desires for His church to care for one another, and when they “minister to the saints through gifts”, they enjoy the “community and association” He desired for them.

Next time Paul shares how the churches in Macedonia, “first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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