2 Corinthians 8:6 Commentary and Bible Study

This grace had ceased to be exercised in Corinth. Or at least, its exercise had greatly diminished. They had been taught, now they needed to be reminded. The church had problems but still it was an excellent church. It super-abounded in five of six gifts that the apostle lists. So why had it hesitated with this one and paused?Well, here are three quick suggestions – the false teachers, the Judaisers, had got in and they were collecting for themselves, and so the need to make an offering for the poverty in Jerusalem was set aside and forgotten. May be also, the Corinthians were developing a bit of a contentious atmosphere – I am of Paul, I am of Apollos – and they divided up into parties with their favourite apostles and preachers, and they had to mature out of that and give that up, and be one church family all looking in the same direction. But maybe that rather foolish and immature, contentious, dividing spirit curbed the exercise of this grace. Then may be also, their sinful toleration of the incestuous sinner damped down the exercise of graces and this grace in particular. But now, they needed to be woken up. They had recovered five graces, they needed the sixth.