Note 7 at 2 Cor. 8:3: In verses 3-5 Paul is demonstrating the liberality of the Christians from Macedonia in the following ways: (1) they gave not according to their ability, but beyond their ability (v.3) [the Today's English Version states, "they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could"]; (2) they were willing of themselves, i.e. they gave of their own accord, without nagging from the apostle Paul (v.3); (3) they pleaded for the privilege of sharing and taking a part in helping God's people (v.4); (4) they dedicated and submitted themselves to the Lord first (v.5), and then gave themselves to the apostle Paul to receive his instructions and to do whatever the Lord wanted them to do (v.5); (5) the Macedonians did these things with singleness of heart and without pretense or hypocrisy (v. 2).