Why did the poor Macedonian believers have such great joy when they had nothing materially?
Their joy came from being delivered out of paganism with its superstition and fear and from being set free by the Gospel. Though they possessed nothing materially, that liberation gave them an abundance of joy, so their deep poverty did not destroy their happiness or generosity.
Les explains that the Macedonian believers had an abundance of joy in a great trial of affliction. They did not have material wealth, but they had joy because they had been removed from paganism with all its superstition and fear, and they had now been set free by the Gospel. Les compares this to the Depression era, when people had no money but were happy because they did not know they were poor. Likewise, these poor people in Greece had nothing materially, yet they had all kinds of joy and happiness, and their deep poverty still abounded unto the riches of their liberality, so they gave liberally.
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Why did the poor Greek believers have joy and happiness despite having nothing materially?
They had joy because they had been removed from paganism, with its superstition and fear, and had been set free by the Gospel. Their happiness did not depend on material wealth; even in deep poverty, they possessed an abundance of joy because the Gospel had liberated them.
Why did the poor Greek Christians have so much joy?
The poor Greek Christians had joy because they had been removed from paganism, with its superstition and fear, and had been set free by the Gospel. Their joy did not depend on material wealth; even in deep poverty and great affliction, they gave liberally.
More Questions
What does 2 Corinthians 8:2 say about the Macedonian churches' joy and deep poverty?
In 2 Corinthians 8:2, Paul says the Macedonian churches in a great trial of affliction had an abundance of joy, and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.
Did the poor Macedonian churches still give, and how did they give?
No matter how poor the Macedonian believers were, they could still give, and they gave liberally.