2Corinthians 8:10-15; Season 8, Episode 4 (30min)

"The First to Begin"

The Outline:

II. EXHORTATION:
The Appeal of Paul the Father (6:11-9:15)

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A. ABOUT THE COLLECTION (8:1-9:15)

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2. Principles of Grace Giving (8:10-9:15)

The Reliability (8:10-12)
The Equality (8:13-15)
The Honorability (8:16-24)
The Responsibility (9:1-5)
The Generosity (9:6-15)

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The NT Church and Socialism:

“And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common…” (Acts 2:44-45); “And not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.”(Acts 4:33-37)
But see on in the context Peter’s speech to Ananias and Sapphira: Acts 5:1-4;
“While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?”
“And after it was sold, was it not under your control?”
Private property and personal responsibility underlies this scene
The actions of selling property and donating the proceeds from the sales was voluntary
This procedure was implemented only in one church at Jerusalem
Note: A case can be made that this drastic measure taken in this church led to the consequence of other distant churches having to underwrite their welfare later (Rom 15:26; Gal 2:10; 2Cor 9:9)
There is a principle of “equality” in reciprocal giving (2Cor 8:15); But that is still a voluntary endeavor to meet the need
The Example of the Apostle Paul: Enterprise, hard work and independence (Acts 18:3; 20:34-35; 1Cor 4:12; 1Thess 2:9; 2Thess 3:6-9)
At no time was it ever a forced communal lifestyle upon the congregations of believers; At no time did the believers expect the Roman government to equalize the economy