What does 2 Corinthians 8:6 mean?

This marks a turn in Paul's focus. He has been praising the churches in Macedonia for their generous giving to aid suffering Christians in Jerusalem. Here, he will pivot to asking the Corinthians to follow through on their own commitment. Specifically, Paul says he has asked Titus to return to Corinth to collect the funds as a way of completing "this act of grace."

Paul often describes Christian giving to meet the needs of others as an act of grace. That makes sense. God gives grace to believers through faith in Christ. This grace comes as a good gift we could never earn. In the same way, Christians give money to others that they are not obligated to give simply out of a spirit of love and kindness.

Paul again seems to be sending Titus on a difficult mission to Corinth. The first time the Corinthians met Paul's associate in ministry, he was delivering a letter of rebuke from Paul for their sin. Apparently, though, Titus and the Corinthians encouraged each other and got along well (2 Corinthians 7:14–16). Now Paul is sending Titus back with the duty of collecting from the Corinthians the monies they had previously agreed to give to the believers in Jerusalem. Paul seems to be aware that perhaps not all in Corinth will still be eager to give to meet this need.