To their power, and even beyond their power. When he says that they were willing of themselves, he means that they were, of their own accord, so well prepared for the duty, that they needed no exhortation. It was a great thing -- to strive up to the measure of their ability; and hence, to exert themselves beyond their ability, showed a rare, and truly admirable excellence. [1] Now he speaks according to the common custom of men, for the common rule of doing good is that which Solomon prescribes, (Proverbs 5:15) -- to drink water out of our own fountains, and let the rivulets go past, that they may flow onwards to others. [2] The Macedonians, on the other hand, making no account of themselves, and almost losing sight of themselves, concerned themselves rather as to providing for others. [3] In fine, those that are in straitened circumstances are willing beyond their ability, if they lay out any thing upon others from their slender means.

Footnotes

1 - "To their power, yea, and beyond their power This is a noble hyperbole, like that of Demosthenes, I have performed all, even with an industry beyond my power.'" -- Doddridge. -- Ed.

2 - Poole, in his Annotations, observes that "the metaphor" made use of in the passage referred to, (Proverbs 5:15,) "is to be understood either 1, of the free and lawful use of a man's estate, both for his own comfort and for the good of others, or 2, of the honest use of matrimony." "The latter meaning," he remarks, "better suits with the whole context, both foregoing and following, and thus it is explained in the end of Proverbs 5:18." -- Ed.

3 - "Ont employe leur soin a secourir les autres plustost qu'a subuenir a leur propre necessite;" -- "Made it their care rather to assist others, than to relieve their own necessities."

For to their power - To the utmost of their ability.
I bear record - Paul had founded those churches and had spent much time with them. He was therefore well qualified to bear testimony in regard to their condition.
Yea, and beyond their power - Beyond what could have been expected; or beyond what it would have been thought possible in their condition. Doddridge remarks that this is a noble hyperbole, similar to that used by Demosthenes when he says, "I have performed all, even with an industry beyond my power." The sense is, they were willing to give more than they were well able. It shows the strong interest which they had in the subject, and the anxious desire which they had to relieve the needs of others.
Of themselves - (αὐθαίρεται authairetai). Acting from choice, self-moved, voluntarily, of their own accord. They did not wait to be urged and pressed to do it. They rejoiced in the opportunity of doing it. They came forward of their own accord and made the contribution. "God loveth a cheerful giver" 2-Corinthians 9:7; and from all the accounts which we have of these churches in Macedonia it is evident that they were greatly distinguished for their cheerful liberality.

For to their power, etc. - In their liberality they had no rule but their ability; they believed they were bound to contribute all they could; and even this rule they transgressed, for they went beyond their power - they deprived themselves for a time of the necessaries of life, in order to give to others who were destitute even of necessaries.

For to [their] power, I bear record, yea, and beyond [their] power [they were] (c) willing of themselves;
(c) Of their own accord they were generous.

For to their power, I bear record,.... They gave according to their ability, to the utmost of it, which is the most that can be desired, or be given; for no man can give more than he has, nor is he required to do more than he is able:
yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; not that they did or could do beyond their power; but they were "willing" beyond their power; their hearts were larger than their purses; they would gladly have done more than they had ability to do; and to this the apostle bears testimony to give it credit, which otherwise might have been called in question: and it is to be observed, that these churches communicated in this cheerful manner and large way, considering their circumstances, to the utmost of their ability, "of themselves"; unasked, not having been put upon, pressed, and urged to such a service; for persons to give when they are asked, especially when they do it readily, at once, without demurring upon it, and with cheerfulness, is much; but to give unasked discovers a very generous and beneficent disposition: this is reckoned by the Jews as one of the excellencies in giving of alms (u),
"when a man gives into the hands of another , "before he asks"; and the next degree to this is, when he gives to him after he asks; and the next to this, who gives less than is proper, but with a cheerful countenance.''
(u) Maimon. Hileh. Mattanot Anayim, c. 10. sect. 11, 12, 13.

they were willing--rather, supply from 2-Corinthians 8:5, the ellipsis thus, "According to their power . . . yea, and beyond their power, THEY GAVE."
of themselves--not only not being besought, but themselves beseeching us.