Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians
The Macedonians, on the other hand, making no account of themselves, and almost losing sight of themselves, concerned themselves rather as to providing for others. 1559 In fine, those that are in straitened circumstances are willing beyond their ability, if they lay out any thing upon others from their slender means.
4. Beseeching us with much entreaty. He enlarges upon their promptitude, inasmuch as they did not only not wait for any one to admonish them, but even besought those, by whom they would have been admonished, had they not anticipated the desires of all by their activity. 1560 We must again repeat the comparison formerly made between the less and the greater. "If the Macedonians, without needing to be besought, press forward of their own accord, nay more, anticipate others by using entreaties, how shameful a thing is it for the Corinthians to be inactive, more especially after being admonished! If the Macedonians lead the way before all, how shameful a thing is it for the Corinthians not, at least, to imitate their example! But what are we to think, when, not satisfied with beseeching, they added to their requests earnest entreaty, and much of it too?" Now from this it appears, that they had besought, not as a mere form, but in good earnest.
That the favor and the fellowship. The term favor he has made use of, for the purpose of recommending alms, though at the same time the word may be explained in different ways. This interpretation, however, appears to me to be the more simple one; because, as our heavenly Father freely bestows upon us all things, so we ought to be imitators of his unmerited kindness in doing good, (Matthew 5:45); or at least, because, in laying out our resources, we are simply the dispensers of his favor. The fellowship of this ministry consisted in his being a helper to the Macedonians in this ministry. They contributed of their own, that it might be administered to the saints. They wished, that Paul would take the charge of collecting it.
5. And not as He expected from them an ordinary degree of willingness, such as any Christian should manifest; but they went beyond his expectation, inasmuch as they not only had their worldly substance in readiness, but were prepared to devote even themselves. They gave themselves, says he, first to God, then to us.
It may be asked, whether their giving themselves to God, and to Paul, were two different things. It is quite a common thing, that when God charges or commands through means of any one, he associates the person whom he employs as his minister, both in authority to enjoin, and in the obedience that is rendered.
referred to, (Proverbs 5:15,) "is to be understood either 1, of the free and lawful use of a man's estate, both for his own comfort and for the good of others, or 2, of the honest use of matrimony." "The latter meaning," he remarks, "better suits with the whole context, both foregoing and following, and thus it is explained in the end of Proverbs 5:18." — Ed.
1559"Ont employe leur soin a secourir les autres plustost qu'a subuenir a leur propre necessite;" — "Made it their care rather to assist others, than to relieve their own necessities."
1560"Le desir et la solicitation de tous par leur diligence et promptitude;" — "The desire and solicitation of all by their diligence and promptitude."