2 Corinthians 8

13. For--Supply from 2 Corinthians 8:8 , "I speak." My aim is not that others (namely, the saints at Jerusalem) may be relieved at the cost of your being "distressed" (so the Greek for "burdened"). The golden rule is, "Love thy neighbour as thyself," not more than thyself.

14. by an equality--"by the rule of equality" [ALFORD]: literally, "Out of equality."
now at this time--Greek, "at the present juncture" or season.
that their abundance also--The Greek being distinct from the previous "that," translate, "in order that," namely, at another season, when your relative circumstances may be reversed. The reference is solely to temporal wants and supplies. Those, as BENGEL, who quote Romans 15:27 for interpreting it of spiritual supplies from the Jews to the Gentiles, forget that Romans 15:27 refers to the past benefit spiritually, which the Jews have conferred on the Gentiles, as a motive to gratitude on the part of the latter, not to a prospective benefit to be looked for from the former, which the text refers to.

15. ( Exodus 16:18 ; Septuagint). As God gave an equal portion of manna to all the Israelites, whether they could gather much or little; so Christians should promote by liberality an equality, so that none should need the necessaries of life while others have superfluities. "Our luxuries should yield to our neighbor's comforts; and our comforts to his necessities" [J. HOWARD].

16, 17. Returning to the subject of 2 Corinthians 8:6 .
for you--Translate, "Which put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus," as was in myself. My care for you led me to "desire" him ( 2 Corinthians 8:6 2 Corinthians 8:17 , "exhortation," the same Greek); but Titus had of himself the same care, whence he "accepted (gladly) my exhortation" ( 2 Corinthians 8:17 ) to go to you ( 2 Corinthians 8:6 ).

17. being more forward--more earnest than to need such exhortation.
he went--Greek, "went forth." We should say, he is going forth; but the ancients put the past tense in letter writing, as the things will have been past by the time that the correspondent, receives the letter. "Of his own accord," that is, it is true he has been exhorted by me to go, but he shows that he has anticipated my desires, and already, "of his own accord," has desired to go.

18. the brother, whose praise is in the gospel--whose praise is known in connection with the Gospel: Luke may be meant; not that "the Gospel" here refers to his written Gospel; but the language implies some one well known throughout the churches, and at that time with Paul, as Luke then was ( Acts 20:6 ). Not a Macedonian, as appears from 2 Corinthians 9:4 . Of all Paul's "companions in travel" ( 2 Corinthians 8:19 , Acts 19:29 ), Luke was the most prominent, having been his companion in preaching the Gospel at his first entrance into Europe ( Acts 16:10 ). The fact that the person here referred to was "chosen of the churches" as their trustee to travel with Paul in conveying the contribution to Jerusalem, implies that he had resided among them some time before: this is true of Luke, who after parting from Paul at Philippi (as he marks by the change from "we" to "they," Acts 16:11 ) six years before, is now again found in his company in Macedonia. In the interim he had probably become so well known that "his praise was throughout all the churches." Compare 2 Corinthians 12:18 , 1:24 . He who is faithful in the Gospel will be faithful also in matters of inferior importance [BENGEL].

19. not that only--not only praised in all the churches.
chosen--by vote: so the Greek.
of the churches--therefore these companions of Paul are called "messengers of the churches" ( 2 Corinthians 8:23 ).
to travel--to Jerusalem.
with this grace--Greek, "in the case of this grace," or "gift."
to the glory of the same Lord--The oldest manuscripts omit "same."
declaration of your ready mind--The oldest manuscripts read, "our," not your. This and the previous clause, "to the glory of the same Lord," do not follow "administered by us," but "chosen of the churches to travel," &c. The union of the brother with Paul in this affair of the collection was done to guard against suspicions injurious "to the glory" of the Lord. It was also done in order to produce a "readiness" on the part of Paul and the brother to undertake the office which each, by himself, would have been less ready to undertake, for fear of suspicions arising ( 2 Corinthians 8:20 ) as to their appropriation of any of the money.

20. Avoiding--taking precautions against this.
in this abundance--in the case of this abundance.

21. The Septuagint ( Proverbs 3:4 , Romans 12:17 ). The oldest manuscripts read, "For we provide."
honest things--"things honorable."

22. This second brother, BIRKS supposes to be Trophimus: for a Macedonian is not meant ( 2 Corinthians 9:4 ) probably the same as was sent before with Titus ( 2 Corinthians 12:18 ); and therefore sent from Ephesus, and probably an Ephesian: all this is true of Trophimus.
oftentimes . . . in many things--Join and translate as in the Greek, "many times in many things."
upon the great confidence which I have in you--"through the great confidence WHICH HE HAS towards you" [ALFORD]. BENGEL better supports English Version, "We have sent . . . through the confidence WHICH WE FEEL in regard to your liberality."

23. fellow helper concerning you--Greek, "fellow worker towards you."
our brethren--the two mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8:18 2 Corinthians 8:22 .
messengers--rather, as the Greek, "apostles": in the less strict sense ( Acts 14:14 ).
of the churches--sent by the churches, as we are by the Lord ( Philippians 2:25 ). There was in the synagogue an ecclesiastical officer, called "the angel of the Church," whence the title seems derived (compare Revelation 2:1 ).

24. The oldest manuscripts read "[continue] manifesting to them in the face of the churches the manifestation of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf."