Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 8:9

"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 become rich." — 2 Corinthians 8:9 (ASV)

In encouraging the Corinthians to bring their contribution to a satisfactory completion (v.6), Paul has thus far appealed to the example of the Macedonians (vv.1–5, 8), to their own promising beginning (v.6), and to their desire for spiritual excellence (v.7). Now he turns to the example of Christ, in whom Paul saw the supreme example of one who showed eagerness and generosity in giving as a demonstration of love. If the sacrificial giving of the Macedonians did not stimulate emulation, the example of Christ’s selflessness certainly would. Paul typically buttresses ethical injunctions with doctrine (e.g., Romans 15:2–3; Ephesians 5:2; Colossians 3:9–10).

Christ “became poor” by the act of incarnation that followed his preincarnate renunciation of heavenly glory (cf. Php 2:6–8). That glory is depicted as wealth, in contrast to the lowliness of earthly existence, which amounts to “poverty.” Through his voluntary surrender of glory, others derived spiritual wealth (Ephesians 1:3). Unlike the Macedonians, who gave when they were poor (v.2), Christ gave when he was incalculably rich. In their present circumstances the Corinthians fitted somewhere between these extremes. Like the Macedonians (v.5), Christ gave himself. The Corinthians would do well to emulate these examples.