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                      As much as able

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And now, brothers, we want you to

know about the grace that God has

given the Macedonian churches.

Out of the most severe trial,

their overflowing joy and their extreme

poverty welled up in rich generosity.

For I testify that they gave as much as

they were able, and even beyond

their ability.

Entirely on their own,

they urgently pleaded with us for

the privilege of sharing in this service

to the saints. 2 Corinthians 7:1-4

Macedonia is home of Alexander.

Recent years it has been independent

from the communist Ugoslavia and

is located just above Greece.

Apostle Paul wrote the second letter

in a year to the Corinthian Church

to resolve the misunderstanding of

himself and to complete the

collection of the promised giving

for the Churches in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem house Churches were poor

but then fell to a pauper because of

famine. The Gospel was received in

lower class in the majority of

New Testament Churches

Paul wrote this letter in Macedonia,

so he knew how much trials they

faced and how poor they are.

But because of these, they were

even more eager to give as much as

they were able and even more joyfully.

They pleaded with Paul to do such.

It is a start of Christian giving.

It's somewhat different nowadays

church construction offering.

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The 2 Corinthians is the Apostle Paul's second letter to the 

Corinthian Churches. Letter is the most intimate and personal.

Two thousand years ago, the Corinth city in Greece reminds

us today's New York city. The Corinth seaboard city was

then a center of trade, merchandize, wealth and luxury.

Also there was the Venus temple which led people not only

to moral deterioration but also sexual disaster.

The original location of Humanism, which against Creator God

and focus on human, the Corinth city in Greece lay in

spiritually formless, empty and darkness.

Here by God's mercy small lights began to shine. They were the

Lord Jesus' house Churches. They belong to the low social class.

Envious and jealous devil attempted to destroy God's

House Churches by questioning Paul's integrity and Apostleship.

And it caused to delay and complicate the promised loving

collection as well for the poverty stricken Jerusalem church.  

It was the process of the life giving Gospel to us, and it

continues so. How beautiful are the feet those who

bring good news !