IX. (1) FOR AS TOUCHING... — The division of Chapter s in the English version, unfortunately, gives the impression of the introduction of a new subject. In reality there is no new topic, and all flows on with unbroken continuity. This is part of the appeal to their self-respect begun in 2 Corinthia... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I KNOW THE FORWARDNESS OF YOUR MIND. — This was the boast to which he had referred in 2 Corinthians 8:24. Achaia (_i.e.,_ Corinth, and perhaps Cenchreæ also) had been ready _last year._ The urgency of his present appeal indicates a latent misgiving whether he had not unconsciously over-stated th... [ Continue Reading ]
YET HAVE I SENT THE BRETHREN... — This, then, was his purpose in the new mission. He wanted the performance not to fall short of the promise. They must be found ready, their money collected. (Comp. 1 Corinthians 16:2.) IN THIS BEHALF. — Perhaps, _in this particular,_ or, _in this respect,_ would be... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST HAPLY IF THEY OF MACEDONIA... — The Greek for “Macedonians” has no article, and the word is meant to stir up something like an _esprit de corps._ “Surely you Achaians won’t allow Macedonians to come and see that you fall short of what I told them about?” It is a probable, but not, as some have... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE I THOUGHT IT NECESSARY... — The brethren were to go before St. Paul, so as to get all things ready for his arrival. There were to be no hurried and unsatisfactory collections then. YOUR BOUNTY, WHEREOF YE HAD NOTICE BEFORE. — Better, _your bounty, announced before._ He is not referring to... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WHICH, SOWETH SPARINGLY... — It is interesting to note the occurrence of this thought in another Epistle of this period (Galatians 6:7). HE WHICH SOWETH BOUNTIFULLY... — Literally, repeating the word before used, _he which soweth in blessings._ The obvious meaning of the passage is that a man “r... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HE PURPOSETH. — The verb, which does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament, is used in its full ethical significance as indicating, not a passing impulse nor a vague wish, but a deliberate resolve, deciding both on the end and on the means for its attainment (Aristotle, _Et... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TOWARD YOU. — The word “grace” must be taken with somewhat of the same latitude as in 2 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 8:19, including _every form of bounty,_ as well as “grace,” in its restricted theological sense: the means of giving, as well as cheerfulness in... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN, HE HATH DISPERSED ABROAD. — The words are quoted from the LXX. version of Psalms 112:9. At first it might almost seem as if they were quoted in a different sense from the original, and applied, not to the giver of alms, but to God as the giver of all good, dispersing His bounty and... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW HE THAT MINISTERETH SEED TO THE SOWER. — Better, _he that giveth bounteously._ The Greek verb (_epichorêgein_) has a somewhat interesting history. Originally it expressed the act of one who undertook to defray the expenses of the chorus of a Greek theatre. As this was an act of somewhat stately... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING ENRICHED IN EVERY THING. — The context points primarily to temporal abundance, but we can scarcely think that the other thought of the spiritual riches that are found in Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9) was absent from the Apostle’s mind. On the word for “bountifulness” see Note on 2 Corinthians 8:2... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS SERVICE. — The latter word (_leitourgia_) has, like that for “ministering” in 2 Corinthians 9:10, an interesting history. In classical Greek it stands for any public service rendered to the State. In the LXX. version it, and its cognate verb and adjective, are used alm... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILES BY THE EXPERIMENT OF THIS MINISTRATION THEY GLORIFY GOD. — The construction of the Greek sentence is again that of a participle which has no direct grammatical connection with what precedes, but the English version sufficiently expresses the meaning. _Test_ would, perhaps, be a better word th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BY THEIR PRAYER FOR YOU, WHICH LONG AFTER YOU. — The structure of the Greek is again ungrammatical, but the following gives a somewhat more accurate representation: _And while they long after you, in supplication for you, on account of the exceeding grace of God that rests on you._ He seems half... [ Continue Reading ]
THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT. — So the section on the collection for the saints comes to its close. We are left to conjecture to what gift the Apostle refers: whether to the love of God as manifested in Christ, or to the spirit of love poured into men’s hearts. The use of the word in... [ Continue Reading ]