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This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
Verse Takeaways
1
Giving Starts with Self
Commentators unanimously agree that the Macedonians' surprising generosity flowed from a deeper commitment. Before giving their money, they "first gave their own selves to the Lord." Scholars emphasize that this total self-consecration is the true foundation for all Christian charity and service. True giving begins not with our possessions, but with our person.
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2 Corinthians
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10
18th Century
Presbyterian
And this they did, etc. They did not give what we expected only. We knew their poverty, and we expected only a small sum from them.
We had hoped (ηλπισαμεν). First aorist active indicative of ελπιζω. "Expected," he means. They went beyond his hopes about them.
19th Century
Anglican
Not as we hoped . . .—This means, of course, that they had done what was far beyond his hopes; and here the point lies in the fact that th…
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Baptist
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus…
In describing the nature of the Macedonians’ generosity, Paul makes several observations. First, they gave far more generously than their slender m…
16th Century
Protestant
And not as He expected from them an ordinary degree of willingness, such as any Christian should show; but they went beyond his expectatio…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And this they did not as we hoped All this was unexpected by the apostles, who knew their great affliction and deep …
The grace of God must be acknowledged as the root and fountain of all the good in us, or done by us, at any time. It is great grace and favor from …
13th Century
Catholic
After exhorting them to good in general, the Apostle now encourages them toward a particular good: contributing to the collection for the saints in…
