Seder 72: 2 Cor 8-9---Paul's Collection for the Saints in Judea

 In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul writes about the collection that he has been organizing for the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.  Commentator David Garland explains that this collection was important to Paul for several reasons:

1.   The saints in Jerusalem were in need, and helping the poor was a value that he wanted to both practice and teach his congregations to practice (Ro 12:13).
2. Paul believed it was fitting for Gentile Christians to show appreciation to their Jewish brethren.  "For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings" (Ro 15:27).  
3. Paul hoped that the collection would promote greater unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians and would help the Jewish Christians to accept the Gentile believers as brethren 
4. Paul saw this collection as a fulfillment of prophecies that picture the nations bringing their wealth to Jerusalem (e.g., Isa 60:5-7; Zec 14:14).

What was important to Paul was not the amounts donated, but the spirit in which the donations were made.  By giving to those in need, Christians follow the selfless example of Jesus  (2 Co 8:9).  

Seder 156: 2 Corinthians 9---Better than the Prosperity Gospel

 The Bible affirms that those who are generous with their assets will tend to prosper.  One striking statement of this principle is given by the prophet Malachi:

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need" (Mal 3:10).

Purveyors of the 'prosperity gospel" like to quote this verse, promising people that they will get rich when they send in their contributions.  (Such preachers may also be hoping to get rich themselves, but they might not mention this.)

We can contrast the approach of the prosperity preachers with that of the apostle Paul.  In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul urges Christians in Corinth to follow through on their pledge to contribute to an offering for Jewish believers in Judea who had been going through a time of famine.  

This is a project that is important to Paul.  He believes that Gentile Christians should show honor to their Jewish brethren.  After all, the gifts of the Messiah and the Scriptures have come to them through the people of Israel (see Rom 9:4-5; 11:18).   

Paul begins his appeal by referring in verses 6-7 to Proverbs 22;8-9, another passage that links generosity and blessing.  He refers to the passage in the Greek Septuagint translation, which says, in part, "The one who sows what is worthless will reap evil things, and he will achieve a beating for his deeds.  God blesses a cheerful and giving man ... The one who shows mercy to the needy will be sustained, for he has given some of his own bread to the poor."  

Unlike the prosperity preacher, however, Paul is not proposing that the Corinthians be generous with the goal of accumulating wealth.  Instead, he says that God will make sure that they always have enough so that they can give even more (verse 8).

If they are continually giving, Paul adds, they will be like God (verse 9).  Here he quotes Psalm 112:9, which states that God "has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."  

He goes on to say that God, the source of all good things, "will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness" (verse 10).  Remember that in first century Jewish thought, the word "righteousness" (Hebrew tzedekah) was connected especially with charitable giving.  So "the harvest of your righteousness" means the good done through your charity.  Again, God will supply the giver with more so that the giver can give more.  

Furthermore, Paul states, when they give more, the recipients of their generosity will thank and praise God because of them, and will go on to pray for them (vv 11-14).  

To summarize, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 that when we give to others, 

• God will make sure that we have enough; 
• so that our giving will increase;
• so that people will thank God because of us;
• and pray for us.

This sounds like an even better deal than that promised by the prosperity preacher.  Clearly the gospel of Paul is greater than the prosperity gospel.

Seder 21: Psalm 112---An Acrostic Wisdom Psalm

 Psalm 112 is a wisdom psalm, like Psalm 1.  And like Psalm 111 right before it, it is an acrostic psalm, consisting of 22 phrases whose first letters go through all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order.

Psalm 112 says that an attitude of proper fear of God leads to a number of good things.  Such an attitude leads one to heed God's word (v 1) and to grow in  wisdom (Ps 111:10), resulting in blessings in the present and future.   As 1 Tim 4:8 says, "Godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." 

Some of the traditions surrounding Ps 112 involve Abraham and Sarah.  One midrash based on the acrostic nature of the psalm says that these two obeyed God "from aleph to tav" (we would say from A to Z).  And as a result they had mighty descendants (v 2).  In particular, Isaac prayed for Rebekah and she was able to conceive children (Gen 25:21).  And Isaac's son Jacob prevailed in wrestling with an angel (Gen 32).  

Ps 112 ascribes qualities usually attributed to God to people who fear God.  God's word reflects his character, and those who heed it become more like him.  For example, vv 3,9 say of those who fear God that "their righteousness endures forever."  They accumulate "treasure in heaven" for a lasting reward.

In Jesus' day "righteousness" (tzedekah in Hebrew)  was associated in particular with giving to the poor, a connection made in Ps 112:9.  Paul quotes this verse in 2 Cor 9:6-15, where he urges believers in Corinth to follow God's example of generosity and contribute to famine relief for those in Judea.  

With a firm foundation in God's word, those who fear God will not be shaken by hard times (vv 5-8).