Four Facts about Poverty in Macedonia - The Borgen Project 1 I don't think there's anything that says money was not given to the "poor gentiles surrounding the communities where he collected it." Rather, so much focus is on Jerusalem because it required more logistical coordination to send large sums of money to Jerusalem. Around the few believers of the house of Israel, as a nucleus, the Gentile majority of the Church must gather. reveals, Paul first preached the Gospel at Philippi
Boeckh C. I. G. in. The incidents, which ushered it in, spoke significantly to himself and his fellow-labourers; and, in St Luke's record, they stand out in bold relief.
He first looks wistfully towards the country lying on his left, wishing to preach the Gospel in the populous district of Proconsular Asia. regularly practicing the sins which 2 Corinthians
Thessalonians 1:3-4 records this: Throughout the Books
Based on stereotypes, one might be tempted to think of the South, because of its hospitality culture; or the West Coast with its activist streak; or perhaps the Northeast because of "old money." Their sacrifice was to him first and foremost. Thirdly, we find several Macedonian Christians in more or less constant attendance upon St Paul. The city was already ancient by the time Paul arrived there around 49 CE ( Acts 16:11-40 ). But, to me, the most striking fact about the collection is that ultimately it was rejected by the apostles and church in Jerusalem. Paul does something unusual and unique in the ancient worlds society: he takes up a collection to aid those struggling with the effects of a famine in Jerusalem. This portion of St Luke's narrative' is emphasized not by any artifice of the writer, but by the progress of the incidents themselves which all converge to one point. Vine,
there mentioned was a bishop of Thes- * To complete the list of Mace, salonica. Bauer,
believers had very generously supported his ministry
Perschbacher, page 65. Before the first missionary journey in Acts 13, Paul had delivered funds to Jerusalem collected by the Antioch church. I think this because Paul is talking about giving to the collection for the church in Jerusalem and not necessarily the church in corinth. When he departs after his first visit, he leaves Silas and Timotheus behind5, and possibly after joining him at Athens they were despatched thither again*. It seems a mistake to suppose that St Paul went to Beroea as an out-ofthe-way town, a sort of hiding place, as Alford seems to imply. The difference between the churches was similar to the case here. Answer The term "Macedonian Call" refers to a God-given vision that directed the route Paul took on his second missionary journey ( Acts 15:3918:22 ). In this way St Luke forces upon our notice the importance of this visit to Macedonia. Required fields are marked *. p. 229 Dickson's transL 1868). We may imagine that the people still retained something of those simpler habits and that sturdier character, which triumphed over Greeks and Orientals in the days of Philip and Alexander, and thus in the early warfare of the Christian Church the Macedonian phalanx offered a successful resistance to the assaults of an enemy, before which the lax and enervated ranks of Asia and Achaia had yielded ignominiously. We want to know what they are doing with the money (asking for newsletters), and we restrict what they can do with the money (only for food, only for education, only for building). [6]
But the most permanent result of St Paul's intercourse with the Macedonian Churches is embodied in the three letters which have come down to us addressed by the Apostle to his converts there. At all events, we may gather from the New Testament history that at the time of the Christian era they had settled there in considerable numbers, and that the synagogue organisation was established in full force. sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but
1 See the curious illustration which Josephus gives (Ant. 6). The faith of Christ had, as it were, made a fresh start. It is the more surprising therefore that they should resemble each other so strongly in tone. {
Paul had to fix that relationship before reminding them of their commitment (Long 2019, 2 Cor 9:13). and Nida, page 581. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-3, Paul
The condition of the Macedonian church could be thought of as extreme poverty. In the next chapter, we see this key highlighted as God loves a cheerful giver 2 Corinthians 9:7. TRENDING: Five Lessons from the Parable of the Talents What does the Bible say about tithing? Thanks to the team of Wealth With Purpose! Corinthians 2, Pauls Second Letter, Macedonia Their giving was only one aspect of their spiritual lives, but what we read in the Bible about the giving which they did is certainly worthy of our serious study, frequent meditation, and ongoing imitation. Money can beand has beenraised solely to support other churches. The Christian population in this period was generally very poor and uneducated. The Jerusalem community appears to be still living in a sort of shared community, supported by gifts when Paul returns to Jerusalem in Acts 21. His most recent book is The Book of Enoch for Beginners: A Guide to Expand Your Understanding of the Biblical World (Rockridge, 2022). 9. Generosity Modeled and Encouraged (2 Corinthians 8:1-9:5) - JesusWalk They were common people. But these are not the only companions delegated to watch over the infant Churches of Macedonia. The church and its frescoes hold a special place in the remarkable collection of Byzantine churches in North Macedonia, a small Balkan country that, after 26 years of independence, is still . Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. The only exception appears to be Queen Abiabene, who brought relief to Jerusalem (Antiq. The narrative of the Epistle to the Philippians implies four journeys between Philippi and the place of St Paul's captivity, before the writing of the letter1, and mention is made of the Apostle's intention of despatching Timotheus thither shortly8. Vine,
However, it is the tremendous giving that the Macedonian churches did in another matter that really catches our eye. 6 Valuable Lessons from the Life of Samuel, 10 Verses from James to Deepen Your Faith. page 130. vi. Paul is a little upset as should anyone else should seeing that Corinth, you mentioned, did not have a lot if any persecution and struggles with money. What Bible Debates Inspired Martin Luther's 95 Theses? Whether St Paul, while visiting these scenes, recalled the past glories of Macedonia, whether he traced in this marvellous page of her history the hand of God moulding the selfish counsels of men to His own great purpose, it is vain to speculate; but we may at least be assured that he did in a measure forecast the future, and that he felt, when he entered Macedonia, that the Gospel was on the eve of some new and striking development. Therefore in 2 Corinthians
His dissertation was published as Jesus the Bridegroom by Pickwick Books in 2012. 2
The rapid and prosperous voyage to the European shores seemed the presage of a comiDg triumph1. This city appears to have been a favourite resort for Jews in the middle ages, and a recent writer, who gives the whole population as seventy thousand, sets down the Jewish element at fifty thousand soulse. Paul boasted to others
accuse the Philippians of lacking in unity and of
The relationship Paul had with the Corinthians affected their willingness to give to Pauls cause, the poor in Jerusalem. What an example! Paul emphasizes their poorness as a way to shame the richer Corinthians but also as a way to boast about what the Macedonians are doing (2 Cor 8:2-5,8,10-12;9:2-4). . A man of Macedonia stands before him and entreats him: 'Come over and help us.' His nationality appears from Col. iv. ministry of the false apostles. 13, 20. at ch. The establishment of Christianity at Larissa is an interesting fact; see below, p. 267. More than once we read in the New Testament about the giving that the churches in the region of Macedonia did. This is pure speculation, but I wonder how Corinths economic status effected Pauls collection. I also often hear collections for missionaries being defended with something like, this money lets the people of (place) know that you are thinking and praying about them, which is similar to how Pauls collection was partially intended to show the Jerusalem church that the Gentile mission was thriving and was thinking honorably about them. At the time Paul wrote
If the pastor was using this passage to advocate the church members to donate money for another church then yes, this passage does fit. It is possible Paul picks up this word from the word from a letter from the Corinthians themselves. Giving to the poor was not like it is today: the poor would receive alms, but no one ever gathered money like a charity organization to distribute it among the poor. also 2 Thess. the true Christ and the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians
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