Pastor Vernon Sivage
March 23, 2025
2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5
II Corinthians
1. Paul’s Representatives – 8:16-22
a. Titus – v16-17: “who placed in Titus’s heart the same
enthusiasm I have for you!”
b. The brother – v18-19: “we are sending the brother who is
universally praised”
c. Our brother – v22: “our brother whose diligence we have often
proved in many ways”
2. Qualifications of Representatives – 8:20-24
a. Their accreditations – v23: “our brothers, they are the
churches’ envoys, Christ’s glory”
b. Their significance – v24: “the accuracy of our boast to them
about you.”
3. Mutual Testimony – 9:1-5
a. Their testimony of trustworthiness – v1: “redundant for me
to write … about this ministry to God’s people”
b. Their testimony of zeal – v2: “your zeal has stirred up most of
them”
c. Their testimony of fidelity – v3-4: “our boast on your behalf
might not be made empty of meaning”
d. Their testimony of God’s faithfulness – v5: “that it might
thus be ready as a generous gift”
2 Corinthians 8:16-9:9
8:16Now, thanks be to God, who placed in Titus’s heart the same enthusiasm I have for you!
17For he accepted our request and was so eager to act on it that he voluntarily is leaving for his visit with you.
18Along with him we are sending the brother who is universally praised throughout all the churches for his gospel work.
19Not only that, but also, he has been appointed by the churches to be our traveling companion in relation to this gift being delivered by us for the glory of the Lord ⌜himself⌝ and to show our readiness to help.
20We are organizing things in this way so that no one can criticize us over this large sum of money we are administering.
21For we are giving careful consideration not only to what is noble in the Lord’s eyes but also what is noble in the eyes of people.
22And we are sending with them our brother whose diligence we have often proved in many ways and who now is much more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you.
23If anyone raises a question about Titus, he is my partner and coworker in our ministry to you. Or if a question comes up about our brothers, they are the churches’ envoys, Christ’s glory.
24Therefore, display openly before the churches the proof of your love and the accuracy of our boast to them about you.
9:1Now on the one hand it is redundant for me to write to you further about this ministry to God’s people,
2for I know how eager you are—on your behalf I keep boasting about it to the Macedonians!: “Achaia has been anxious to participate since last year.” And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
3Nevertheless, I am sending the brothers in order that in this particular instance our boast on your behalf might not be made empty of meaning—in order that you might be prepared, as I kept telling them you would be.
4In this undertaking, we (not ⌜to mention⌝ you!) would be so humiliated if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared!
5Consequently, I have thought it necessary to encourage the brothers to travel on ahead to you and organize in advance your previously promised generous gift, in order that it might thus be ready as a generous gift and not as an expression of stinginess.
