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December 25 2 Corinthians 8–9 Just Giving Gary VanderPol, ThD Assistant Professor of Justice and Mission C hristmas is the season for giving. at's why today, we'll seek to "prepare Him room" in our hearts by reflecting on 2 Corinthians 8–9, the most extensive passage in the entire Bible on giving. In this letter, Paul urged followers of Jesus in Corinth to share financially with their impoverished brothers and sisters in distant Jerusalem. Paul had many inspiring reasons for them to give. He began by painting a picture of generous giving as an overflow of God's empowering grace (2 Cor. 8:1–5). en in verses 13 to 15, Paul shows that grace and justice go hand in hand: Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be ἰσότης(equality). At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. e goal is ἰσότης(equality), as it is written: "e one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little." Paul says here that the goal of his collection was not merely charity, but also ἰσότης (equality or fairness). God loves equality and justice. He hates it when some of His children have lots while others go hungry. erefore, like the miracle of manna in the desert (Ex. 16:13–17), the "miracle" of giving is that it can help to correct situations of inequality that do not reflect God's desire of enough for all. We should pause a moment to consider how astonishing this passage is. e ramifications for us this Advent are challenging and exciting. Paul was assuming that Christians should be passionately concerned about all economic inequality within the family of God—even for those living halfway around the world. In the words of one New Testament scholar, "It is difficult to imagine how such an assumption—so radical in the present situation of enormous disparities in wealth between Christian communities—could function in the contemporary church without being literally revolutionary." 1 So this Christmas, let's not limit our generosity to a few friends and family members. Let's each do our small part to reflect the justice that Jesus came to bring by participating in our Redeemer's revolution of ἰσότης in this world of inequality. 1 Sondra Wheeler, Wealth as Peril and Obligation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995, p. 87. 20