The “collection for the saints” was for the believers in Judea who were in poor circumstances, it may be because of sharing all they possessed with one another (Acts 4:32-37), and by reason of the great persecution at the time of Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1). This collection is referred to in a number of passages: (Gal. 2:10; 2 Cor. 8 and 9; Rom. 15:25-28, and Acts 24:17). The children of God are enjoined in Rom. 12:13 to care for one another’s needs in a practical way, “distributing to the necessity of saints”,a word from which we may learn that God allows some of His children to have needs beyond their power to fill, so that those with plenty may have the privilege of sharing with them.
Verse 2. The first day of the week, the Lord’s day (Rev. 1:10) is the day which Christians, as far as they can be free from secular employment, rightly set apart for Him. If at first they broke bread daily in remembrance of the Lord in His death for them, Acts 20:6,7 gives us to know that ere long the disciples came together to break bread on the first day of the week.
On this day of memory (John 20, Luke 24, Mark 16, Matt. 28) when the Lord rose from the dead in resurrection life, it was fitting that each should lay by at home in whatever degree he had prospered, part of the gift that all would soon be sending to Jerusalem. There is no thought here of Old Testament tithing, for the Christian is not under law; but young Christians and old Christians alike may profitably study 2 Cor. 8:1-5 and estimate, if they can, what share of the income of the Macedonian believers was devoted to the needs of the Lord’s people in Judea. Is there a lesson for us to learn in the way of Christian giving, here, do you think?
Verses 3, 4. It was fitting that the Corinthian believers should send their gifts by messengers from among themselves, rather than that the apostle should carry the responsibility of it, though he might have them in his company. Acts 19:21, 22 indicates the time of the writing of this Epistle; it was written at Ephesus (verse 8), notwithstanding the uninspired note at the end of the letter; and Acts 20:4 gives the names of some of those that were with Paul on this journey to Jerusalem.
Verses 5-8. The apostle was not free to go to Corinth at this time, nor was Apollos (verse 12), because of the low spiritual state there, as he explains in the 2nd Epistle, 1St chapter, verse 23. Paul wrote this first letter out of much tribulation and distress of heart, and with many tears (chapter 2, 2nd Epistle), sending it with Titus; and, anxious to learn how it was received at Corinth, he crossed over from Troas to Macedonia to meet Titus on his return. Then he wrote the 2nd Epistle before fulfilling his purpose of going to Corinth.
Verse 9. God had opened a “great door” and an effectual one for the apostle’s labors on behalf of his Master at Ephesus; and there were many adversaries, for Satan does all he can to hinder the work of God. Thus were there two reasons, beside the one not mentioned until the 2nd Epistle, why Paul did not at this time go to Corinth.
Verses 10, 11. Timothy and Erastus had been sent by the apostle into Macedonia (Acts 19:22). Timothy was young, as is shown by 1 Tim. 4:12; tender personal regard for him is evidenced by the verses in our Epistle, but it was because he worked the work of the Lord, even as Paul did, that the Corinthians were to receive him and set him forward on his way.
Verse 12. Not a suggestion of jealousy of Apollos as a fellow laborer for Christ is recognizable in the apostle’s references to him. Shameful it is when such fruits of the old nature are allowed in any saint of God; thorough self judgment is needful in all; in none is it more essential than in those who seek to serve the Lord.
Verses 13 and 14. The Epistle is drawing to its close; not doctrine now, but responsibility, and the Lord’s service occupy the last chapter, and Paul’s thoughts turn again to the Corinthian saints whose state pressed heavily upon him. “Watch ye” (or, be vigilant), for they had grown careless and negligent of what had been committed to them; “stand fast in the faith”: the Epistle has shown them many things in which human reasoning, and not faith, had been in exercise; most of all, perhaps, in the denial on the part of some that there is a resurrection of the dead.
“Quit you like men; be strong” for they had followed an easy path of their own choosing, which avoided reproach for Christ’s sake.
“Let all your things be done in love”; this was the “more excellent way” of chapter 13. Weighty words of divine wisdom for the believer’s earthly path are all these, and suited for every Christian in this day of weakness and departure from the written Word of God. Let us each take them to heart as written for ourselves.