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TEXT.

14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.

16 I rejoice, therefore, that I have confidence in you in all things.

PARAPHRASE.

14 tion he found you all in towards med. So that I am not ashamed of having boasted of you to him. For all that I have said to you is truth; so what I said to Titus, in your com15 mendation, he has found to be true; Whereby his affection to you is abundantly increased, he carrying in his mind the universal obedience of you all, unanimously, to me, and the 16 manner of your receiving him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, therefore, that I have confidence in you in all things.

NOTE.

13 d Vid. ver. 15.

SECTION III.

CHAPTER VIII. 1.-IX. 15.

CONTENTS.

THE apostle having employed the seven foregoing chapters in his own justification, in the close whereof he expresses the great satisfaction he had in their being all united again in their affection and obedience to him; he, in the two next chapters, exhorts them, especially by the example of the churches of Macedonia, to a liberal contribution to the poor Christians in Judea.

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TEXT.

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God, bestowed on the churches of Macedonia

;

2 How that, in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, (I bear record) yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves;

4 Praying us, with much intreaty, that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And this they did, not as we hoped; but first to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

also.

gave

their ownselves

6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that, as he had begun, so he would
the same grace
also finish in you
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, in utterance, and
knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us; see that you
abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of
others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

PARAPHRASE.

1 Moreover, brethren, I make known to you the gift", which,
by the grace of God, is given in the churches of Mace-
2 donia: viz. That, amidst the afflictions they have been
much tried with, they have, with exceeding cheerfulness and
joy, made their very low estate of poverty yield a rich con-
3 tribution of liberality: Being forward of themselves (as I must
bear them witness) to the utmost of their power; nay, and
4 beyond their power: Earnestly intreating me to receive their
contribution, and be a partner with others, in the charge of
5 conveying and distributing it to the saints. And in this they
out-did my expectation, who could not hope for so large
collection from them. But they gave themselves first to the
Lord, and to me, to dispose of what they had, according as
6 the good pleasure of God should direct. Insomuch that I
was moved to persuade Titus, that, as he had begun, so he
would also see this charitable contribution carried on among
7 you, till it was perfected: That, as you excel in every thing,
abounding in faith, in well-speaking, in knowledge, in every
good quality, and in your affection to me; ye might abound
8 in this act of charitable liberality also. This I say to you,

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NOTES.

grace," is here used, by St. Paul, for "gift," or
It is called
1 Xápis, which is translated, "
"liberality," and is so used, ver. 4, 6, 7, 9, 19, and 1 Cor. xvi. 3.
also xápis Oro, the "gift of God," because God is the author and procurer of
it, moving their hearts to it. Besides, doμény i cannot signify "bestowed on,"
but "given in," or "by."

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2 How ill-disposed and rough to the Christians the Macedonians were, may be
seen, Acts xvi. and xvii.

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TEXT.

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet, for your sakes, he became poor, that ye, through his poverty, might be rich.

10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11 Now, therefore, perform the doing of it; that, as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also, out of that which you have.

12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

d

PARAPHRASE.

not as a command from God, but on occasion of the great liberality of the churches of Macedonia, and to show the world 9 a proof of the genuine, noble temper of your love. For ye know the munificence of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, being rich, made himself poor for your sakes, that you, by his 10 poverty, might become rich. I give you my opinion in the case, because it becomes you so to do, as having begun not only to do something in it, but to show a willingness to it, 11 above a year ago. Now, therefore, apply yourselves to the doing of it in earnest; so that, as you undertook it readily, 12 you would as readily perform it, out of what you have: For every man's charity is accepted by God, according to the

NOTES.

8 «Τὸ τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀγάπης γνήσιον δοκιμάζων, σε showing the world a proof of the genuine temper of your love." Thus, I think, it should be rendered. St. Paul, who is so careful, all along in this epistle, to show his esteem and good opinion of the Corinthians, taking all occasions to speak and presume well of them, whereof we have an eminent example in these words, " ye abound in your love to us," in the immediately preceding verse; he could not, in this place, so far forget his design of treating them very tenderly, now they were newly returned to him, as to tell them, that he sent Titus, for the promoting their contribution, to make a trial of " the sincerity of their love :" this had been but an ill expression of that confidence, which, chap. vii. 16, he tells them, "he has in them in all things." Taking, therefore, as without violence to the words one may, Soxiμά(wy for "drawing out a proof," and yov for "genuine," the words very well express St. Paul's obliging way of stirring up the Corinthians to a liberal contribution, as I have understood them. For St. Paul's discourse to them briefly stands thus: "The great liberality of the poor Macedonians made me send Titus to you, to carry on the collection of your charity, which he had begun, that you, who excel in all other virtues, might be eminent also in this. But this I urge, not as a command from God; but, upon occasion of others' liberality, lay before you an opportunity of giving the world a proof of the genuine temper of your charity, which, like that of your other virtues, loves not to come behind that of others."

9 4 Τὴν χάριν, "the grace," rather "the munificence," the signification wherein St. Paul uses zápis over and over again in this chapter, and is translated “gift,”

ver. 4.

TEXT.

13 For I mean not, that other men may be eased, and you burdened: 14 But by an equality that now, at this time, your abundance may be

a supply for their want; that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality :

15 As it is written, "He that had gathered much, had nothing over; and he that had gathered little, had no lack."

16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

17 For, indeed, he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the churches:

19 (And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us, with this grace, which is administered by us, to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind)

20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance, which is administered by us:

21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

PARAPHRASE.

largeness and willingness of his heart, in giving, and not 13 according to the narrowness of his fortune. For my meaning 14 is not that you should be burdened to ease others: But that, at this time, your abundance should make up what they, through want, come short in; that, on another occasion, their abundance may supply your deficiency, that there may be an 15 equality: As it is written, "He that had much, had nothing 16 over, and he that had little, had no lack." But thanks be to

God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern for 17 you, Who not only yielded to my exhortation, but, being more than ordinary concerned for you, of his own accord went 18 unto you: With whom I have sent the brother, who has

praise through all the churches, for his labour in the Gospel : 19 (And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to accompany me in the carrying this collection, which service I undertook for the glory of our Lord, and for your 20 encouragement to a liberal contribution :) To prevent any aspersion might be cast on me by any one, on occasion of my 21 meddling with the management of so great a sum; And to take care, by having such men joined with me in the same trust, that my integrity and credit should be preserved, not only

NOTES.

17 Vid. ver. 6.

18 This brother most take to be St. Luke, who now was, and had been a long while, St. Paul's companion in his travels.

TEXT.

22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner, and fellow-helper concerning you or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24 Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

IX. 1 For, as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal hath provoked very many.

3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain; in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

4 Lest haply, if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, you) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

PARAPHRASE.

With

22 in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. them I have sent our brother, of whom I have had frequent experience, in sundry affairs, to be a forward, active man; but now much more earnestly intent, by reason of the strong 23 persuasion he has of your contributing liberally. Now, whether I speak of Titus, he is my partner, and one who, with me, promotes your interest; or the two other brethren sent with him, they are the messengers of the churches of Macedonia, by whom their collection is sent, and are promoters of 24 the glory of Christ. Give, therefore, to them, and, by them, to those churches, a demonstration of your love, and a justificaIX. 1. tion of my boasting of you. For, as touching the relief of the poor Christians in Jerusalem, it is needless for me to 2 write to you. For I know the forwardness of your minds, which I boasted of, on your behalf, to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal in this matter 3 hath been a spur to many others. Yet I have sent these brethren, that my boasting of you may not appear to be vain and groundless in this part, but that you may, as I said, have 4 your collection ready: Lest, if perchance the Macedonians should come with me, and find it not ready, I (not to say, you) should be ashamed in this matter, whereof I have boasted.

NOTE.

2 Achaia, i. e. the church of Corinth, which was made up of the inhabitants of that town, and of the circumjacent parts of Achaia. Vid. ch. i. 1.

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