Paul's purpose was to rally the Corinthians to complete a voluntary, grace-based offering for the impoverished Jewish believers in Jerusalem—not to impose a tithe.
Les Feldick shows that Paul was orchestrating a collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, who had become destitute after their common treasury ran out. Paul wanted the gift to be ready before he arrived, so no one would give merely out of pressure. Throughout these chapters Paul never commands a percentage or a tithe, but calls believers to abound in the grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:9 — Les emphasizes Christ's self-impoverishing as the supreme motive behind Paul's appeal for a generous offering.
2 Corinthians 9:1 — Paul explicitly calls the collection 'the ministering to the saints,' identifying the recipients of the giving.
In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul is writing about a collection for 'the ministering to the saints' (2 Corinthians 9:1). He points to the churches of Macedonia, whose 'deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality' (2 Corinthians 8:2), and he urges the Corinthians to 'abound in this grace also' (2 Corinthians 8:7). The greatest motivation is Christ Himself: 'For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich' (2 Corinthians 8:9). Paul is clear that this giving is not a tithe or a fixed requirement: 'I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love' (2 Corinthians 8:8). Acceptance is based on willingness: 'For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not' (2 Corinthians 8:12). And the practical goal was a prepared gift: 'make up beforehand your bounty... that the same might be ready' (2 Corinthians 9:5).
Les teaches that Paul's giving instructions in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 center on a collection for 'the poor saints dwelling at Jerusalem.' These Jewish believers had pooled their resources since Pentecost, and the common treasury ran out, leaving them destitute. Because they were destitute through their obedience to the Word, God took care of them through the offerings of Gentile believers. Paul stresses that the Jews are worthy of material gifts because of the spiritual things the Gentiles have received from them. Les also emphasizes that Paul never imposes a percentage or a tithe in these chapters. Instead, Paul holds up the grace of giving, rooted in Christ's example of becoming poor for our sakes. Paul wanted the collection completed before his arrival so the Corinthians would not give merely because he was present, and he sent men of integrity to carry the gift to Jerusalem. Old Testament instructions, such as animal sacrifices, do not automatically transfer to believers today, according to Les.
Les explains that the Jewish believers in Jerusalem had been pooling all their resources since Pentecost, as described back in Acts chapter 2. The common treasury ran out, leaving them destitute. Because they were destitute through their obedience to the Word of God, God took care of them through the offerings of Gentile believers. That is why Paul repeatedly refers to this as ministering to the poor saints in Jerusalem.
Les says Paul did not want the Corinthians to feel obligated to give simply because he was personally present. He did not want someone to have to 'dig down in their other pocket' when Paul arrived. So Paul instructed them to have the collection gathered and ready for Titus and the other men of integrity to carry to Jerusalem. Paul even boasted to the Macedonians about the Corinthians' zealousness, so the offering needed to be ready when those men came.
Les points out that there is not a word in these chapters about naming 10 percent or presenting a tithe. Paul never says 'tithe'; he is dealing with the general concept of Christian giving. Les calls it 'the grace of giving.' He also reminds listeners that just because the Old Testament told Israel to do something, such as offering animal sacrifices, that does not mean it is automatically valid for believers today. Therefore tithing is not the issue in Paul's giving instructions.
Les explains that if God in the person of Christ was willing to leave the absolute control of the universe and take on the role of a slave for our salvation, then believers cannot reasonably refuse to give. Christ's poverty for our sake becomes the foundation for the 'grace of giving.' Paul uses this example to move the Corinthians to act generously.
Why Poor Churches Begged to Give - 2 Corinthians 8:1-6
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Collection for Poor Jerusalem Saints
Les explains that Paul's offering instructions targeted the poor Jewish saints in Jerusalem, who had become destitute after the church's common treasury ran out.
Christ's Example of Giving
Les shows that Christ's willingness to leave heavenly glory and become a servant motivates believers to give sacrificially.
Giving Without Paul's Influence
Les teaches that Paul wanted the offering completed before he came, so the Corinthians would not give just because he was present.
No Tithe in Paul's Instruction
Les emphasizes that Paul never mentions a 10 percent tithe in these chapters and frames giving as a general Christian grace.
Offering for Destitute Jerusalem Saints
Les identifies the offering as being for the poor saints in Jerusalem, left destitute after pooling their resources since Acts 2.
Grace of Giving and Old Testament Commands
Les calls giving a grace and warns that Old Testament commands, like animal sacrifices, do not automatically carry over to believers today.
Have the Offer Ready
Les teaches that Paul wanted the Corinthians to have the bounty already collected so the messengers could take it straight to Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 8:2: How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Paul cites the Macedonians' generous giving despite poverty as a model for the Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 8:7: Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Paul urges the Corinthians to abound in the specific grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:8: I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
Paul clarifies that the giving appeal is not a formal command but a test of sincere love.
2 Corinthians 8:9: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Christ's self-impoverishment is the supreme motive behind Paul's giving instructions.
2 Corinthians 8:12: For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
God accepts giving based on willingness, not on a fixed amount or percentage.
2 Corinthians 9:5: Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
The goal was to have the gift prepared in advance and taken to Jerusalem as a genuine bounty.
Les Feldick explains that the offering was primarily for the poor saints dwelling at Jerusalem. These believers had pooled their resources since Pentecost, the common treasury ran out, and they became destitute. God used the Gentile believers' offerings to meet their needs.
No. Les points out that Paul never names 10 percent and never says 'tithe' in 2 Corinthians 8–9. Paul speaks about the general concept of giving and calls it the grace of giving, not a legal requirement.
Les says Paul did not want the Corinthians to give because of his presence or influence. He wanted the offering collected and prepared before he got there, so it would be a willing and ready bounty rather than a pressured donation.
Watch the Teaching: Why Poor Churches Begged to Give - 2 Corinthians 8:1-6