Grace, when it comes, sanctifies them and manifests them in their proper power, fullness, and perfection. The Macedonians were marked by broad generosity.
The grace of God sanctified their compassionate and sociable hearts, a Slavic trait. They were extremely poor, yet so virtuous that it would be fitting for the rich to be so generous.
They forgot themselves and cared only for others. Good courage in sorrows did not constrict their hearts. On the contrary, by joy it widened their hearts, opened their meager treasuries, and brought forth rich giving.
This picture must have appeared very stirring for the not-impoverished Corinthians to imitate. By the word "willing," he expresses this: we did not force them to it.
They do all this of themselves, so gladly, by their own good will. It is good when someone does good by direction and persuasion from another.
Yet certainly far better is the one who himself perceives what must be done. In such a person goodness lies in the depth of the heart.
St. John Chrysostom says: "Since the Apostle's chief aim was to bring the Corinthians to give alms from the free disposition of the heart, he dwells especially on this, saying, 'with much entreaty,' and then, 'they besought us.'
That is, we did not ask them, but they asked us. About what? 'That we should receive the grace and fellowship of the ministry to the saints.'"
"By ministry to the saints the Apostle means the commission given him by the holy Apostles in Jerusalem, to collect alms everywhere among the faithful for the poor Church of Jerusalem" (Theophan).
"See," says St. John Chrysostom, "how by the words, 'they gave themselves to the Lord,' the Apostle shows their extraordinary zeal for God.
They did not submit to God in part while serving the world in another part. Rather, they gave everything, and their whole selves, to Him alone, being united also with us in love.
Having given themselves to us, they did not do so according to human calculations, but according to the will of God. Notice the excellence of the Apostle's love.
When they asked and urged us to accept the alms, we, he says, were concerned for you, lest you fall behind them. For this reason we sent Titus, so that, stirred by him, you might emulate the Macedonians."
Titus had already been in Corinth and had begun the collection of alms among them, according to the first epistle.
Now the Apostle sent him so that his very presence would serve as an impulse for the Corinthians to give alms.
When mentioning almsgiving, the Apostle always calls it grace. Indeed, almsgiving is a great good and a gift of God.
The giving of alms likens us, as far as possible, to God Himself. This, above all, makes a human being truly human.
Therefore someone, presenting the image of a human being, said among other things: a great thing is man, and precious is the merciful man (Prov 20:6).
THEOSIS