¹For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; ²for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. ³But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; ⁴otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence. ⁵So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.

Twenty-five times to the Corinthians Paul used the word “boast”—which seems to be an ironic dig in light of the Corinthians’ apparent boasting in themselves and their sectarian alignments, which boasting Paul roundly condemns. Only God is worthy of our boasts (1 Cor. 1:31).

It may be that he is being manipulative to push them into a corner so that in shame they will finally give a token donation to the benevolence project. That would represent the harshest interpretation of Paul’s motives. It is better to see that, as he has been building in this second letter to them, he really does believe they are on the right track in their intentions. They just need encouragement to follow through.

The apostle boasts about their response to their enrichment “in Him, in all speech and all knowledge” (1 Cor. 1:5). And they had gained more knowledge through Paul’s teaching. They were well-intentioned in wanting to participate in this effort, and as a good mentor and discipler, the apostle encourages them to follow through. As with Titus and the unnamed workers previously mentioned, such demonstration of faithfulness will be “a glory to Christ” (2 Cor. 8:23).

Paul often used the example of others as a motivator to his audience. He used the Macedonians to spur on the Corinthians (2 Cor. 8:1–5), and he used the Corinthians to “stir” up the Macedonians. He used “the churches of God” to set an example to the Corinthians about worship (1 Cor. 11:16). Paul used himself and other faithful Christians to motivate the Philippians (Phil. 3:17). In the words of the author to the Hebrews, Paul aided in the practice of “stimulating one another to love and good deeds…” (Heb. 10:24).

So Paul explains that he has sent a delegation to the Corinthians to make all the arrangements before he arrives, so that there would be nothing lacking in what they intended. Essentially, he is saying, “Don’t undermine your reputation or embarrass me because I have already boasted about your response.”

Lord, provoke me to be generous in supporting Your people and Your work.