10 through his poverty ye might be rich. And I give my judgement in this matter; for this is expedient for you, who have already begun not only to do, but also to have 11 a willing mind, a year ago*. Now therefore fully perform the doing of it also; that, as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a full performance also out of that 12 which ye have. For if there be first a ready mind, it is accepted according to what [a man] hath, and not ac13 cording to what he hath not. For I mean not that others 14 may be eased, and you burthened: but that, by an equality, your abundance may be a supply at this time for their want; that their abundance also may be a supply for your 15 want that there may be an equality, as it is written, "He that had gathered much, had nothing over; and he that had gathered little, had no want." 16 But thanks be to God, who putteth into the heart of 17 Titus the same diligent care for you. For he accepted indeed my exhortation; but, being very earnest, he went 18 to you of his own accord. And we sent with him a bro ther, whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the 19 churches; and not that only, but who was appointed also by the churches our fellow-traveller with this liberal gift, which is to be administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to the declaration of our ready mind† : 20 we avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this 21 abundance which is to be administered by us; and pro viding things which are good, not only in the sight of 22 the Lord, but in the sight of men also. And we have sent with them our brother, (whom we have often found forts and luxuries of life for the good of others. See Grotius in loc. This was a very *Or, "who began not only to act, but also with a willing mind, a year ago." diligent in many things, but now much more diligent,) 23 because of the great confidence which we have in you. If any inquire of Titus, he is my partner, and fellowlabourer toward you: or if our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of 24 Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, before the churches*, IX. the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your acCH.count. For concerning your ministration to the saints, 2 it is superfluous for me to write unto you. For I know your readiness, for which I glory of you to those of Macedonia, that Achaia was prepared a year ago: and your 3 zeal hath provoked very many. Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our glorying of you should be in vain in this 4 respect; that, as I said of you, ye may be prepared : lest, if those of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we should be put to shame (not to say ye) for 5 this confidencet. I have therefore thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before to you, and make up beforehand your bounty, before spoken of by me, that it might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 6 However, this I say, He who soweth sparingly, will reap also sparingly; and he who soweth bountifully, will 7 reap also bountifully. Let every man give according as he chooseth in his heart; not with pain, or by constraint: 8 for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make every gift abound toward you; that, having always all sufficiency in all things, ye may abound to every 9 good work: (as it is written, " He hath dispersed abroad; ⚫ he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth 10 for ever.") Now may he who supplieth seed to the sower, both supply bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteous * and before the churches, R. T. + this confidence [of glorying]. R. T. and N. Griesbach, upon the authority of the Vatican, Ephr. and Clermont MSS., reads, "he who supplieth, etc, will supply--will multiply--will increase, etc.” il ness; ye being enriched in all things to all liberality, 12 which causeth thanksgiving by us to God. For the min istration of this service not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also in many thanksgivings to 13 God; (while, by the experience of this ministration, men glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal contribution to them, 14 and to all men ;) and in their prayer for you, who long after you for the exceedingly bountiful gift bestowed by 15 you. [Now] thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. CH. X. Now I Paul beseech you by the meekness and gentle ness of Christ, (I who in outward appearance am humble 2 among you, but when absent am bold toward you;) now I entreat you, I say, that I may not be bold, when present, with that confidence with which I think to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according 3 to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do 4 not war according to the flesh; (for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the 5 casting down of strong holds ;) casting down reasonings, and every high thing which exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every 6 thought to the obedience of Christ; and being ready to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is complete. Do ye look on things according to the outward appearance? If any man trust in himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this also, that, as he is Christ's, 8 so are we likewise. For though I should glory in a somewhat extraordinary manner of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for your edification, and not for 9 your destruction, I should not be ashamed: but I forbear, that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my epis10 tles. For his epistles, it is said, are weighty and power * So we likewise [are Christ's.] R. T. and N. See Griesbach. ful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech con11 temptible. Let such an one think this, that as we are in word by epistles when absent, such we will be in deed also, 12 when present. For we dare not place ourselves in the same rank, or compare ourselves, with some who commend themselves: but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves*, 13 [are not wise.] But we will not glory of things beyond our measure; but concerning the measure of the line which God hath allotted to us, that we should reach even 14 to you. For we stretch not ourselves too far, as though we reached not to you: for we came even as far as to 15 you in preaching the gospel of Christ; not glorying of things beyond our measure, that is, in the labours of other men; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged among you, as concerning 16 our line, abundantly; so as to preach the gospel in the harts beyond you, and not to glory in another man's line 17 of things made ready for us. But he that glorieth, let 18 him glory in the Lord. For not he who commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. CH. XI. I wish that ye would bear with me a little in mine 2 inconsideration: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous of you with a godly jealousy†: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a 3 chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear lest, as the serpent deceived Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should 4 be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ. For if he that cometh among you preach another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit which ye have not received, or another gospel which ye have not accepted, nevertheless ye might well bear with 5 me. For I suppose that I am in nothing inferior to the 6 chiefest apostles. But though I be rude ‡ in speech, yet * Or, they measure themselves by themselves, and compare, etc. See Newcome's note. I am not in knowledge; but in every thing we have been 7 made manifest toward you among all men. Have I com mitted an offence in humbling myself, that ye might be exalted; inasmuch as I have preached to you the gospel 8 of God without cost? I spoiled other churches, and took 9 wages from them, that I might minister to you: and when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man for that which was wanted by me, the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied: and in every thing I have kept myself from being burthensome to you, and 10 will keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, this glorying of mine cannot be stopped in the regions of 11 Achaia. Why? because I love you not? God knoweth 12 otherwise. But what I do, that I will also do; so as to cut off occasion from those who desire occasion; that, 13 wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workmen, transforming 14 themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder for Satan* also transformeth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is therefore no great thing, if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness: whose end 16 will be according to their works. I say again; Let no man think me inconsiderate: but if otherwise, yet receive me as one inconsiderate, that I also may glory a little. 17 That which I shall speak, I speak it not according to the Lord, but as through inconsideration, in this confidence. of glorying. 18 Since many glory according to the flesh, I also will 19 glory. For ye gladly bear with the inconsiderate, since 20 ye yourselves are wise. For ye bear with it, if a man “The connexion shews that by Satan here is to be understood the chief opponent of Paul, whom he compares in the third verse to the serpent who deceived Eve, and describes by, he that cometh to preach another Jesus' in the fourth verse. This Satan, or leading adversary, transforms himself into an angel of light, or assumes the character of a messenger of Jehovah. The argument is this: "Since their chief arrogates the character of a messenger of God, it is no wonder that his ministers pretend to be apostles of the Messiah." Simpson's Ess, on Script. p. 162. |
