2 Corinthians Week 13

Day 1 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:16-17 

16 But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. 17 Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. 

Paul rejoiced that Titus had the same feelings for the Corinthian believers that he had. Titus was likely with them when they read this and had carried the letter to them. It was the custom in New Testament Greek to sometimes write from the viewpoint of the reader rather than the writer.  

REFLECT 

Has your heart been encouraged when you learn that a friend has the same appreciation for other believers that you have? 

RESPOND 

People need to be encouraged. Even the apostles needed to be. Paul had been encouraged about the situation with Titus. Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8 to see how encouraged he was when Timothy brought back good news about the believers in Thessalonica. 

Day 2 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:18-19 

18 We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. 19 He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. 

This passage has wisdom about the handling of money. It should be done by more than one person. The one sent with Titus was a person of integrity and “preacher of the Good News.” This individual was not chosen by Paul but by the churches. The individual’s name is not mentioned; only his qualifications for being one of those trusted with money. 

REFLECT 

How is money handled in your local fellowship? Is there more than one person responsible for it? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the important matter of handling the money entrusted by others. If only one person is doing it; what if a false charge is made against that person? How could it be disproven if no one else was a witness to what was being done?  

Day 3 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 

20 We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 21 We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. 

Paul was aware there might be criticism of those responsible for the money being entrusted to them by generous believers. That is why they were traveling in a group. The men themselves were confident they were honorable before the Lord, but they wanted to make sure they were able to show people they were honorable.  

REFLECT 

Has this caused you to realize that in addition to being honorable before the Lord your actions should show that to others?  

RESPOND 

Theodore H. Epp, the founder of Back to the Bible in 1939, felt strongly about this passage. He one time said, “That is why we pay thousands of dollars to have an unbiased organization audit our books.” He knew he was handling things honorably before the Lord, but he wanted to prove it to others if ever there was a question. 

Day 4 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:22 

22 We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. 

Paul adds to the list of unknown brothers. He does not say the reason for concealing their names. Apparently he believed their qualifications were more important than their names. Throughout this passage, the integrity before God and others is emphasized.  

REFLECT 

This is a reminder that a person’s name and title are not as important as the history of the individual’s integrity before others. When others hear your name, does your integrity come to their minds?  

RESPOND 

As you disciple others, emphasize the importance of integrity before God and others. Read Titus 2:6-8 to see what Paul wrote to Titus about discipling others.  

Day 5 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:23-24 

23 If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. 24 So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified. 

Paul prepared the readers for the possibility some would ask about Titus. It was sufficient just to let others know that he was Paul’s partner. Paul had already established evidence of his integrity to them. As for the other brothers, they had been approved by churches, likely a reference to the leadership in those churches. Paul’s appeal to the Corinthian believers was to show them love and demonstrate the confidence others had in them was not misplaced. 

REFLECT 

Showing love to other believers is what Jesus wants for all Christ-followers. Does your church fellowship do this? 

RESPOND 

How is the world to know that believers are the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ? Jesus gave the answer in John 13:35. In your community, is it understood that the believers in your group love each other?