ΓΝΩΡΊΖΟΜΕΝ ΔῈ ὙΜΙ͂Ν, ἈΔΕΛΦΟΊ, ΤῊΝ ΧΆΡΙΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂. NOW WE MAKE KNOWN _to you, brethren, the grace of God_ WHICH HATH BEEN GIVEN IN _the Churches of Macedonia_. The δέ and the ἀδελφοί mark a transition to another topic, as in 1 Corinthians 15:1 : but δέ perhaps intimates that the Corinthians have to... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΠΛΟΥ͂ΤΟΣ (אBCP) rather than τὸν πλοῦτον (א3DFGKL). 2. ὍΤΙ ἘΝ ΠΟΛΛΗ͂Ι ΔΟΚΙΜΗ͂Ι ΘΛΊΨΕΩΣ. THAT IN MUCH PROOF _of affliction_. The ὅτι depends upon γνωρίζομεν. For δοκιμῇ see on 2 Corinthians 2:9 : but it is not clear whether it here means ‘proof’ (R.V.), or ‘trial’ (A. V.), or ‘approvedness’ (Chryso... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΑΡΤΥΡΩ͂. Comp. Galatians 4:15; Romans 10:2; Colossians 4:13. ΠΑΡᾺ ΔΎΝΑΜΙΝ. Stronger than ὑπὲρ δύναμιν (2 Corinthians 1:8). Not to be taken with αὐθαίρετοι, as if the meaning were _fecerunt quod potuerunt, et magis quam facultas sineret tribuere voluerunt_ (Atto Vercell.). ΑΥ̓ΘΑΊΡΕΤΟΙ. In the N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
3–5. The main clause in this long sentence is ἙΑΥΤΟῪΣ ἜΔΩΚΑΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΚΥΡΊΩΙ: _totam periochae structuram sustinet_ (Bengel). Of this self-sacrifice four things are stated: (1) it was to the extent of their power and beyond it; (2) it was of their own free will; (3) it was accompanied by much entreaty t... [ Continue Reading ]
4. After εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους the Rec. and A.V. follow some cursives and inferior authorities in adding δέξασθαι ἡμᾶς to fill up the sense. 4. The A.V. is here misleading. What is meant is not what the Macedonians gave to S. Paul, but what they besought him to give to them, _viz._ the _grace_ of sharing... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ ΚΑΘῺΣ ἨΛΠΊΣΑΜΕΝ. _Not_ JUST _as we_ EXPECTED (2 Corinthians 13:6), but far exceeding our expectations. ἈΛΛʼ ἙΑΥΤΟῪΣ ἜΔΩΚΑΝ ΠΡΩ͂ΤΟΝ Τ. Κ. Perhaps ἑαυτούς should keep its emphatic position; _but themselves they gave first to the Lord and to us_. They gave more money than they could afford; but, f... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΤῸ ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΈΣΑΙ ἩΜΑ͂Σ ΤΊΤΟΝ. This depends upon ἔδωκαν, and there should be at most a semicolon at the end of 2 Corinthians 8:5 : _They gave their own selves … so that_ WE EXHORTED (or, _entreated_) _Titus, that_, JUST _as he_ MADE A BEGINNING BEFORE, _so he would also_ COMPLETE TOWARDS YOU THIS _... [ Continue Reading ]
7. Perhaps ἘΞ ἩΜΩ͂Ν ἘΝ ὙΜΙ͂Ν (B 30, 31, Arm.) rather than ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν (אCDFGKLP, Latt. Aeth.). 7. ἈΛΛʼ ὭΣΠΕΡ ἘΝ ΠΑΝΤῚ ΠΕΡΙΣΣΕΎΕΤΕ. NAY, _as ye abound in everything_. There is no parenthesis. The ἀλλά indicates that there is something further to be said. ‘All this is true, _but_, what is more, a... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ ΚΑΤʼ ἘΠΙΤΑΓῊΝ ΛΈΓΩ. NOT BY WAY OF COMMAND AM I SPEAKING (comp. 1 Corinthians 7:6 : the phrase is used somewhat differently Romans 16:26; 1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 1:3). In a similar spirit the Apostle makes clear to Philemon that he gives no commands; he wishes to leave Philemon quite free (8, 9, 14)... [ Continue Reading ]
EXHORTATIONS AND INDUCEMENTS TO GIVE ACCORDING TO THEIR MEANS He is a sensitive man dealing with sensitive people; and he points out that he is not giving orders, which are not needed and would mar the beauty of their liberality: he is giving his judgment as to what is fitting and just.... [ Continue Reading ]
9. After Ἰησοῦ B omits Χριστοῦ. 9. The reason why he does not command. There is no need; they know why they ought to give. There is a higher example than that of the Macedonians. ΓΙΝΏΣΚΕΤΕ. Almost certainly indic., although Chrysostom and Theodoret take it as imperat. ΤΟΥ͂ ΚΥΡΊΟΥ ἩΜΙΔΝ ἸΗΣΟΥ͂ [ΧΡ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΓΝΏΜΗΝ ἘΝ ΤΟΎΤΩΙ ΔΊΔΩΜΙ. _And_ IT IS AN OPINION THAT I AM GIVING IN THIS; γνώμη in contrast to ἐπιταγή (2 Corinthians 8:8). See the same contrast 1 Corinthians 7:25; and for the value of his γνώμη 1 Corinthians 7:40. ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ ΓᾺΡ ὙΜΙ͂Ν ΣΥΜΦΈΡΕΙ. ‘To offer one’s judgment, and not give commands, is... [ Continue Reading ]
ΝΥΝῚ ΔῈ ΚΑῚ ΤῸ ΠΟΙΗ͂ΣΑΙ ἘΠΙΤΕΛΈΣΑΤΕ. BUT NOW COMPLETE THE DOING ALSO, _that as there was_ THE _readiness to will, so there may_ BE THE COMPLETION ALSO ACCORDING TO YOUR MEANS. Νυνί is more precise than νῦν, and here is in emphatic contrast to ἀπὸ πέρυσι: in the N.T. twice in Acts, twice in Hebrews,... [ Continue Reading ]
12. After ἔχῃ C2L, Copt. Syr.-Pesh. add τις to smooth the construction. 12. ΕἸ ΓᾺΡ Ἡ ΠΡΟΘΥΜΊΑ ΠΡΌΚΕΙΤΑΙ. _For if_ THE READINESS IS THERE, _IT IS_ ACCEPTABLE _according to_ WHAT IT MAY HAVE, _not according to_ WHAT IT _hath not_. The strong compound ΕΥ̓ΠΡΌΣΔΕΚΤΟΣ means ‘very welcome.’ S. Paul uses it... [ Continue Reading ]
13. The δέ after ὑμῖν (א3DFGKLP, Vulg. Arm.) is probably an insertion for smoothness: אBC, 17, 33, d e Aeth. omit.... [ Continue Reading ]
13, 14. The construction of the first ἵνα and of ἐξ ἰσότητος is uncertain. Probably ἵνα depends upon something to be understood, as ‘You must complete the ποιῆσαιʼ (2 Corinthians 8:11), or ‘I mean’ (A.V.), or ‘I say this’ (R.V.), or, as ἵνα itself suggests, ‘The object is’ (Waite). And ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἰσότη... [ Continue Reading ]
15. In the LXX. the words run; οὐκ ἐπλεόνασεν ὁ τολύ, and ὁ τὸ ἔλαττον οὐκ ἠλαττόνησεν (Exodus 16:18). This seems to mean that those who had tried to get more than their due measure of manna, and those who had not tried to get their full measure, found that each had neither more nor less than was ri... [ Continue Reading ]
ΧΆΡΙΣ ΔῈ ΤΩ͂Ι ΘΕΩ͂Ι ΤΩ͂Ι ΔΙΔΌΝΤΙ. _But thanks be to God_, WHO GIVETH _the same earnest care_ IN _the heart of Titus_. Pres. part. of what is continually going on. By God’s gift Titus is ever inspired with the same zeal as that which the Apostle himself has. The ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ after τῷ διδόντι is proba... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΤΙ. The proof of his earnestness: _For indeed he_ ACCEPTS _our exhortation, but being_ ALL ALONG VERY MUCH IN EARNEST, _of his own accord_ (2 Corinthians 8:3) _he_ IS GOING _forth to you_. The verbs are epistolary aorists, from the point of view of the recipients of the letter: see on 2 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΥΝΕΠΈΜΨΑΜΕΝ ΔΈ. _And we_ ARE SENDING TOGETHER _with him the brother whose praise_ IN THE GOSPEL IS THROUGH _all the Churches_. Certainly ΤῸΝ� means the fellow-Christian, not the actual brother of Titus. He was someone known to the Corinthians, but quite unknown to us. Barnabas, Silas, Mark, Trophim... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΧΆΡΙΤΙ (BCP, f Vulg. Copt. Arm. Aeth.) rather than σὺν τ. χ. (אDFGKL, d Syrr.); and ΠΡΟΘ. ἩΜΩ͂Ν (אBCDG &c.) rather than προθ. ὑμῶν (F). Comp. 2 Corinthians 7:12. 19. This verse is rather parenthetical, so that in construction 2 Corinthians 8:20 fits on to 2 Corinthians 8:18; and there shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΤΕΛΛΌΜΕΝΟΙ ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ. This fits on to συνεπέμψαμεν (2 Corinthians 8:18): TAKING CARE OF _this, that no man blame_ (2 Corinthians 6:3) _us in_ THE MATTER OF THIS BOUNTY _which is_ BEING MINISTERED _by us_. The Apostle desires to avoid all possibility of an accusation of having ‘kept back’ (Acts 5:2) pa... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΝΟΟΥ͂ΜΕΝ ΓΆΡ (אBDFGP, Latt. Arm.) rather than προνοούμενοι (CEL), which is adopted in the Rec. and A.V. 21. ΠΡΟΝΟΟΥ͂ΜΕΝ ΓᾺΡ ΚΑΛΆ. FOR WE TAKE FORETHOUGHT FOR THINGS HONOURABLE. See critical note. For the remainder of the verse comp. Romans 12:17, where the same quotation from Proverbs 3:4 is fou... [ Continue Reading ]
22. Commendation of the third delegate, who is to accompany Titus and ‘the brother’ of 2 Corinthians 8:18. _And we_ ARE SENDING (see on 2 Corinthians 8:17) TOGETHER _with them our brother whom we have proved_ TO BE IN EARNEST MANY _times in many things_. The characteristic alliteration here and 2 Co... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἼΤΕ ὙΠῈΡ ΤΊΤΟΥ, … ΕἼΤΕ�. Broken construction, the ellipse in each half being different: ‘whether (anyone asks) about Titus … or our brethren (be asked about).’ Comp. Romans 12:7. AS TO TITUS, _he is my partner and_ FELLOW-WORKER TO YOU-WARD (2 Corinthians 8:22); OR AS TO _our brethren, they are_ AP... [ Continue Reading ]
23, 24. Summary, briefly commending all three of the delegates... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝΔΕΊΞΑΣΘΕ (אCD2D3KLP, f Vulg. Syrr. Copt. Arm. Aeth.) rather than ἐνδεικνύμενοι (BDFG, d e g): but the reading is doubtful. CHAPS. 8, 9. THE COLLECTION FOR THE POOR SAINTS AT JERUSALEM; THE PALESTINE RELIEF FUND This subject is treated in “the ablest and most convincing section in Paley’s _Horae P... [ Continue Reading ]