The Limits of Church Benevolence Isaiah 55:8-9

The Wisdom of God’s Design in Limiting Church Benevolence Individuals have the responsibility to help those who are not Christians (Galatians 6:10; James 1:27) Churches are limited even in what they can do to help their own members (1 Timothy 5:3-10, 16) The reason for this limit is given in 1 Timothy 5:16. “Let not the church be burdened” or “charged.” Overburdening the church with financial obligations would hinder it from accomplishing its prime missions of evangelism and edification.

Who can churches help? Who DID churches help in the New Testament? “All that believed” (Acts 2:44-45) “Them that believed” (Acts 4:32, 34-35) “Widows” among “disciples” (Acts 6:1-6) “Widows indeed” (1 Timothy 5:16) “Brethren” (Acts 11:27-30) “Saints” (Romans 15:25-26) “Saints” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) “Saints” (2 Corinthians 8:4) “Saints” (2 Corinthians 9:12-14)

Why doesn’t “all men” in 2 Corinthians 9:13 include non- saints? Consider the stated purpose of the contribution: The contribution was “for the saints” (1 Cor. 16:1) and “for the poor saints…at Jerusalem” (Romans 15:25-26) Its object was “ministering to the saints” (2 Cor. 8:4) It supplied the “needs of the saints” (2 Cor. 9:12) Consider the possible meanings of “all men.” Note that “men” is in italics, which means it is not in the original Greek text. “All” must be limited! – Or else the contribution and its benefits are far too extensive.

Why doesn’t “all men” in 2 Corinthians 9:13 include non- saints? Consider that those who received the distribution prayed to God and were thankful for His grace (2 Corinthians 9:14). This could not include unbelievers! Consider that Paul prayed to be delivered from those “in Judea who do not believe” and that the contribution he carried would be “acceptable to the saints” (Romans 15:30-31). Why would he need to be delivered from people to whom he was giving????

Why doesn’t “all men” in 2 Corinthians 9:13 include non- saints? Consider the comments of unbiased scholars: R.C.H. Lenski: “The saints are seen glorifying God ‘also for the single-mindedness of fellowship with them and with all,’ i.e. all other saints… The saints at Jerusalem are pictured as glorifying God…for spiritual fellowship and communion. It is this fellowship of the Corinthians which extends not only to those saints who are being helped at present but to all God’s saints, whether they are helped or not” (The Interpretation of 1 & 2 Corinthians)

Why doesn’t “all men” in 2 Corinthians 9:13 include non- saints? Consider the comments of unbiased scholars: Floyd V. Filson: “The closing words, ‘and toward all,’ may imply that a benefit to the Jerusalem saints serves the whole church, or that this specific gift will be matched by other acts of helpfulness to ‘all’ other Christians as opportunities arise.” (The Interpreter’s Bible)

Why doesn’t “all men” in 2 Corinthians 9:13 include non- saints? Consider the comments of unbiased scholars: Alfred Plummer: “Whether kai eis pantas (“and unto all”) be a sudden after-thought or not, it points out to the Corinthians that a benefit conferred on the brethren at Jerusalem is a benefit to the whole body of Christians.” (A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians)

Why doesn’t “all men” in 2 Corinthians 9:13 include non- saints? Consider the comments of unbiased scholars: David Lipscomb: “Seeing their obedience and fidelity to the gospel of Christ, and their liberality to the poor saints in Jerusalem in the offerings they made, prompted them to glorify God for the subjection to the gospel of Christ and beneficence to all men, for their liberality showed that they excluded no Christian from their fellowship.” (A Commentary on the NT Epistles)

God is Glorified through OBEDIENCE! 2 Corinthians 9:13: “While, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men” God gets the glory when we obey and when we share!