2 Corinthians 8:5

By giving themselves to God first and then to their fellow believers, the Macedonians demonstrated their sincere desire to be made perfect. Paul quoted their example in the hope of persuading the Corinthians to do likewise.

"And" this, "not as we hoped." This he says with reference both to the amount and to their afflictions. 'For we could never have hoped,' he says, 'that whilst in so great affliction and poverty, they would even have urged us and so greatly intreated us.' He showed also their carefulness of life in other respects, by saying, "But first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God." 'For in everything their obedience was beyond our expectations; nor because they showed mercy did they neglect the other virtues,' "but first gave themselves to the Lord." What is, "gave themselves to the Lord?" 'They offered up [themselves]; they showed themselves approved in faith; they displayed much fortitude in their trials, order, goodness, love, in all things both readiness and zeal.' What means, "and to us?" 'They were tractable to the rein, loved, obeyed us; both fulfilling the laws of God and bound unto us by love.' And observe how here also he again shows their earnestness saying, "gave themselves to the Lord." They did not in some things obey God, and in some the world; but in all things Him; and gave themselves wholly unto God. For neither because they showed mercy were they filled up with senseless pride, but displaying much lowlymindedness, much obedience, much reverence, much heavenly wisdom, they so wrought their almsdeeds also. But what is, "by the will of God?" Since he had said, they "gave themselves to us," yet was it not "to us," after the manner of men, but they did this also according to the mind of God.

The words "not as we expected" refer not to the Macedonians' willingness to give but to the amount which they gave.

We did not expect that those in such poverty and such affliction would ask us to accept their service.

Here he testifies to their other virtues as well. For they did not become puffed up from the fact that they gave alms, nor did they neglect other virtues, but they wholly gave themselves over to the Lord, wholly and undividedly inclined themselves to every God-pleasing work. "And to us" they gave themselves, that is, they were obedient in all things, they showed love "by the will of God," that is, as is pleasing to God, and not according to human calculation.

He also commends their generosity as to the order of giving, because they not only gave what they owned, but they first gave themselves. For this should be the order of giving, namely, that a man be first acceptable to God, for if a man is not pleasing to God, his gifts are not acceptable: "And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering" (Gen. 4:4). Therefore he says, "and this, not as we expected." As if to say: they were truly willing, because not as we expected, i.e., not with the intention we considered, that is, that they would give in reparation for sin; but first they gave themselves to the Lord, by amending their life, and to us, by obeying in all things, by the will of God, which is that man be subject to his vicars: "Obey your leaders and submit to them" (Heb. 13:17). A Gloss says that their offerings would not have been acceptable, unless they had first given themselves to God. Therefore, it seems that alms should not be accepted from sinners. I answer that they should not be accepted, when they are given with the intention of being nourished in their sins.