2 Corinthians 2:12,13

Butler's Commentary

SECTION 2

Distance (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)

12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord; 13but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

2 Corinthians 2:12 No Communication: The record in Acts shows that Paul was in Troas on two different occasions, neither of which corresponds to the one he mentions here:

a.

His first visit to Troas as a Christian was on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:6-10) where he had the vision of the man of Macedonia who said, Come over into Macedonia and help us.

b.

On his third missionary journey he arrived in Ephesus (Acts 19:1 ff) wrote the epistle we know as I Corinthians; left Ephesus at the time of the riot (Acts 20:1) and evidently went first to Troas (2 Corinthians 2:12) in search of Titus, and thence to Macedonia where he sat down and wrote the epistle we know as II Corinthians.

c.

Then, still on his third missionary journey, he came to Troas from Philippi (Acts 20:1-12) where the disciples were gathered on the first day of the week to break bread and Paul preached to them until midnight, (see Chronology of the Apostolic Age, page 57-61.

Troas was earlier named Alexandria Troas. It was located ten miles from the ruins of ancient Troy and founded by Lysimachus (one of Alexander the Great's generals) in 300 B.C. Troas was a Roman colony in the days of Caesar Augustus, and one of the most important cities of NW Asia. It was a port of call on the trade-route between Macedonia and Asia (Acts 16:8; Acts 20:5; 2 Corinthians 2:12). Titus would probably disembark there on his way back to report to Paul from his mission to Corinth. Paul was so eager to hear about the situation at Corinth he could not stay in Ephesus so he went to Troas hoping to meet Titus there.

Paul had received no communication from Corinth. He really cared about the spiritual condition of the brethren there (2 Corinthians 11:28). He was feeling the anxiety of not knowing. There is a feeling of great loneliness and deep depression which accompanies such isolation. Even though a door was opened for Paul to preach the gospel in Troas he could not take advantage of it because he could not set his mind to rest due to his anxiety. It is interesting, if not rather consoling, to note that even the greatest of the apostles had his moments of depression and was unable to function properly at times. He had to leave the open door in Troas behind and go to Macedonia until he could find Titus and set his mind at rest about the situation in Corinth. Many a preacher has felt the same loneliness because the congregation to which he ministers has made it a point to keep from him information necessary to building the kingdom of God and making it grow in spirituality. Too often the preacher is flooded with negative communications and destructive criticisms and deprived of encouragement and enlightenments which would assist him in his work.

2 Corinthians 2:13 No Comrade: Titus was Paul's true child in the faith (Titus 1:4), a convert, friend, and cherished co-laborer in the gospel. If our own Christian experience is any gauge, Paul was more nearly kindred to Titus than to some of his own flesh-and-blood. After he had converted Titus (a Greek), Paul took him to Jerusalem and defended him against the Judaizers (Galatians 2:3). During Paul's third missionary journey Titus was assigned missions to Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:1-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; 2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 7:5-16; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24). Much later Titus was in Crete and left behind there by Paul to organize its churches (Titus 1:4-5). And then Paul requested Titus to meet him at Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). Titus was consecrated, courageous, and resourceful. He knew how to handle the quarrelsome Corinthians, the mendacious Cretans, and the pugnacious Dalmatians (2 Timothy 4:10).

Titus was undoubtedly one of Paul's favorite companions. He is one of three individuals to whom Paul wrote Holy-Spirit-inspired letters (Timothy and Philemon being the others). Paul loved him as if he were his own son! When Paul was in prison the second time and facing certain death, Titus was one of those upon Paul's heart and lips (2 Timothy 4:10) and one of those he longed to see.

Every preacher knows the heartache of being separated from those he loves most. Usually it is his own family. Often, however, he also feels the loneliness of being separated from comrades-in-armshis fellow ministers of the gospel. There is a definite camaraderie in the ministry experienced only by those who have met the same struggles, overcome the same difficulties, suffered the same setbacks. And when these soldiers of the faith have to serve in places where they are isolated from one another for long periods of time, there surrounds them a deep sense of loneliness. This is one of the problems that plague preachers. It plagued the apostle Paul. But heaven will solve that problem!

Applebury's Comments

Troas to Macedonia
Scripture

2 Corinthians 2:12-13. Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord, 13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.

Comments

when I came to Troas.The record in Acts shows that Paul was in Troas on two different occasions, neither of which corresponds to the one he mentions here. According to Acts, he first came to Troas on his second missionary journey after having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. While at Troas he had a vision of the man of Macedonia who said Come over into Macedonia and help us (Acts 16:6-10). He stopped at Troas again on his third journey, spending about a week there in fellowship with the church. On the first day of the week they gathered together to break bread, and Paul preached to them. He continued his speech until midnight intending to leave the next day. Eutychus went to sleep and fell from the third story and was taken up dead. After the miracle of bringing him back to life, Paul took leave of the brethren and continued his journey to Jerusalem.

Paul reminded the Corinthians of another brief stopover at Troas not reported in Acts. In his eagerness to learn from Titus about conditions in Corinth, he had gone to Troas hoping to find Titus. Failing to do so, he went on to Macedonia where he did meet him and received his report.

for the gospel of Christ.In all his travels, Paul's only purpose was to proclaim the gospel of Christ. His mission was to tell the good news concerning Christ.

when a door was opened.Paul had reminded the Corinthians of his intention to remain at Ephesus until Pentecost for a great and effectual door was open to him for the preaching of the gospel, and there were many adversaries. Again at Troas, he found an opportunity to preach the gospel awaiting him.

I had no relief for my spirit.Why did the Lord allow Paul to suffer anxiety over the situation at Corinth because of the lack of information? Why didn-'t He send an angel or give him direct revelation through the Holy Spirit? There are basic reasons why this was not done: Miraculous communication was used (1) to reveal the truth of the gospel (1 Corinthians 2:6-16), and (2) to give direction to the preachers of this inspired message in the apostolic period. For example, an angel spoke to Philip and told him to leave Samaria and go to the Gaza road where he met the Ethiopian. There the Spirit told him to join the chariot. He preached Jesus to the man who was reading from Isaiah. Paul himself had been under immediate direction of the Holy Spirit as he went through the country before coming to Troas the first time. Following his arrest in Jerusalem, while in prison, the Lord told him that as he had borne witness for Him in Jerusalem so he must also bear witness in Rome. See Acts 23:11. The Holy Spirit, of course, had directed him as he wrote to the Corinthians giving them instruction about their problems. But it was their responsibility to act upon that information and correct their problems. The principle is clear: Miraculous guidance and information was given in connection with the preaching of the gospel in the absence of the written Word. But communication between the apostle and established congregations followed this procedure: When the apostles directed their letters to the churches, the letters were written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Information regarding the reception of the message depended on the presence of the apostle himself or someone such as Titus, in this case, or Timothy, on another occasion, to report to the apostle on the situation in the church. One of the burdens which Paul bore throughout his entire ministry was anxiety for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28).

I found not Titus, my brother.Timothy probably figured more prominently in the ministry of Paul than Titus. But Paul's affection for Timothy seems also to have been shared by Titus, whom he calls my true child after a common faith (Titus 1:4). Paul had trusted him with a very important mission in Crete, where he was to set things in order and appoint elders in every city. See Titus 1:5.

Titus is mentioned in Paul's last letter to Timothy as having been associated with him in his imprisonment in Rome (2 Timothy 4:10). Perhaps the greatest tribute paid to Titus is the mission on which he was sent to Corinth to learn of their reception of Paul's instruction regarding their many problems and to -return with that news. This he ultimately did and gladdened Paul's heart with it. An important tribute is paid to him in connection with his role in gathering funds for the sufferers in Jerusalem. Of him Paul wrote Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow worker to youward (2 Corinthians 8:23). See also Paul's tribute of the work of Titus in 2 Corinthians 7:5-16. Titus figured in the solution of an important issue among the Galatian churches. Some had insisted that Gentile Christians be required to keep the Jewish custom of circumcision. Paul laid the matter before the brethren in Jerusalem but not even Titus who was a Greek was compelled to be circumcised. Gentiles did not have to become Jews in order to be Christians. The gospel was open to Jew or Gentile on the basis of faith expressed in obedience to the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. See Galatians 2:1-10.

I went forth into Macedonia.Since there was an open door of opportunity to preach the gospel at Troas, the question comes: Why did Paul leave Troas and go into Macedonia to find Titus in order to learn what had happened in Corinth? There is no indication that the Lord had instructed him to do so. However, Paul did everything taking into consideration this principle: If the Lord permit. This decision evidently had to be made on the basis of his own consecrated Christian thinking with purpose in mind to serve the Lord in caring for all the churches. His decision to leave Troas and go into Macedonia would easily lead the Corinthians to understand his deep concern and Christian love for them. To save that church, it seems, was the more important of the two issues that confronted him. This in no way suggests that Paul left Troas without doing something about the promotion of the cause of Christ in that city. That the opportunity was not ignored is indicated by the fact that when he came back to Troas on his third journey he met with the brethren, spending a week in their fellowship and preaching the Word.