The Grace of God in Macedonia 2 Corinthians 8:1

Paul the apostle, “rejoiced” and had “confidence in you in all things” in which the church members in were involved, and in chapter eight and verse one of Second Corinthians, Paul shared with the church members about, “the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia” toward them where we read:

Moreover, brethren, we want you to know the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

The verse begins, “Moreover, brethren, we want you to know ...” Paul began with the words, “moreover” which means “even now, also and nevertheless”, “brethren” which refers to “fellow believers who are united to another by the bond of affection in Christ”, “we want you” or “Paul and his companions desired for the church members” “to know” which means “to recognize and to gain or knowledge of”. Paul and his companions wanted the church members to be “aware of” that which he is about to write.

The verse goes on to say, “the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;” Paul added the words, “the grace” which means “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, goodwill, loving-kindness, loveliness and unmerited favor” “of God” or “the Godhead bodily which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “bestowed” which refers to “given, granted, supplied, furnished and delivered” “on the churches” or “to the assemblies of Christians gathered for worship in religious meetings” “of Macedonia” whose name means “extended land” and was “a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria and on the North by Dardania and Moesia”. Paul and his companions desired for the Corinthian believers to “know” how “God” “granted and supplied” His “grace” upon the churches which were located in “Macedonia”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we may find it interesting that he desired for the church members of Corinth to know about the church in Macedonia. Jesus Christ's church is placed around the world, and His abundant “grace” is “supplied” to all of them. Jesus desires that each part of the “body of Christ” or the church be concerned about the others, and as Paul mentions “Macedonia”, perhaps we shall be inspired to think of His church not only down the street or in our town, but also throughout the entire earth.

Next time Paul shares with the church members how, “in a great trial of affliction the abundance of the church in Macedonia's “joy and their deep poverty abounded”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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