Glory be to Jesus Christ!
🌞
A direct continuation of this reading is the one referred to here:
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/29082023.html
This reading is preceded by the one referred to here:
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/25082023.html
2 Corinthians VIII, 4 - 'ἡμῶν' - 'emon' - 'us'.
2 Corinthians VIII, 5 - 'ἡμῖν' - 'emin' - 'us'.
The Apostle Paul here praises the Macedonians to the Corinthians, in particular the Thessalonians, the letter to whom we read this week (also the Philippians), and holds them up as an example of generosity beyond their means, generosity that is deeply sacrificial, selfless, with a complete surrender of themselves to God and a manifestation of faithfulness to the apostles and the other churches.
Paul emphasises that such sacrificial generosity comes from God's grace, or rather, from its abundance and richness, and rejoices with them. We need to remember that all good things are given to people, including the faithful, through the work of God's grace, but not every gift of God is grace itself. Nevertheless, as I wrote earlier, the word grace
is used at least sometimes in the New Testament in a broad sense, referring to various gifts of God, not necessarily the divine energy that is most often referred to by this word in the New Testament.
Luke IX, 37 - 'ἡμέρᾳ' - 'emera' - (to) 'day'.
The miracle was performed by Jesus after the Transfiguration on the mountain in front of the chosen disciples.
It is also found in other Evangelists, with additional details. Luke, as a physician, pays more attention to the symptoms
of demon possession.
For the parallel passages in Matthew (Matthew XVII, 14-21) and Mark (Mark IX, 14-29), see the links:
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/13082023.html
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/26032023.html
Glory be to Thee, our God, glory be to Thee!