16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. 16 Χαιρω ουν, ότι εν παντι Sαρρω εν ὑμῖν. pears, that the person who had suffered the injury from his son, was still alive. The son, therefore, by cohabiting with his father's wife, to the guilt of incest added that of ingratitude to his father. Ver. 16-1. I rejoice then that I have confidence in you in every thing. It is an observation of Oecumenius, that the apostle in this part of his letter, expressed his good opinion of the Corinthians, and mentioned his having CHAPTER VIII. View and Illustration of the Exhortations in this Chapter. THE directions which the apostle in his former letter gave to the Corinthians, concerning the collection for the saints in Judea, had not, it seems, been fully complied with. At the persuasion of Titus, indeed, they had begun that collection; but they had not finished it when he left Corinth; owing, perhaps, to the opposition made by the faction, or to the disturbances which the faction had raised in that church. Wherefore, to stir up the sincere among the Corinthians, to finish what they had so well begun, the apostle in this chapter, set before them the example of the Macedonian churches; I suppose, the churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, who, notwithstanding their great poverty, occasioned by the persecution mentioned, 1 Thess. ii. 14. had contributed beyond their ability, being much inclined to that good work by their own benevolent disposition, ver. 1, 2, 3.—and had entreated the apostle to receive their gift, and carry it to Jerusalem, ver. 4, 5.-His exhortation to the Corinthians on this occasion, no doubt, would be the more regarded by them, that it immediately followed the many commendations given them for their love and obedience. See chap. vii. 16. note. Wherefore, in the persuasion that they would now be hearty in the affair, the apostle told them, he had entreated Titus, that as he had begun, so he would finish that good work among them, ver. 6.—adding, that as they abounded in every other grace, and entertained great love to him their spiritual father, he hoped they would abound in that grace also, ver. 7. This, however, he did not speak as an injunction, because works of charity must be voluntarily performed; but that they might emulate the forwardness of the Macedonians, and shew the sin 16 I rejoice then that I have confidence in you in every thing. 1 16 Your behaviour having been such, I rejoice that I can rely on your ready obedience, in every thing. praised them to Titus, to prepare them for his exhortations in the two fol. lowing chapters, concerning the collection for the saints in Judea. His address, therefore, in this part of his letter, is admirable; especially as, in commending to the Corinthians, he expressed himself in a very handsome manner, and agreeably to the good opinion which he now entertained of them. cerity of their love and gratitude to Christ, ver. 8.—And the more effectually to persuade them to part with some of their riches for relieving the saints, he told them, they were well acquainted with the greatness of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich, ver. 9.—He then gave it as his opinion, that they ought to finish these collections speedily, seeing they had begun them the last year, ver. 10.none of them postponing the matter any longer, on pretence of inability, ver. 11.-because God regards the willingness of the giver, more than the greatness of his gift, ver. 12. But lest the Corinthians might fancy, that by thus earnestly recommending liberality in making the collection, he meant at their expense to enrich the brethren in Judea, he assured them, he meant only the relief of their present pressing wants, that in their turn they might be able and disposed, in case of need, to assist the Corinthians, ver. 13, 14, 15.-And to shew that he was much interested in this matter, he thanked God for having put the same care concerning it in the heart of Titus, ver. 16.— who, at his desire, had willingly agreed to go with him to Corinth, for the purpose of persuading them to finish their begun collection; but who being more diligent in the matter than the apostle expected, had offered to go before him, to exhort them, and was come to them with this letter, ver. 17.-But that Titus might not be burdened with the whole weight of the work, he told them, he had sent with him a brother of great reputation, who had been chosen by the Macedonian churches, to accompany the apostle to Jerusalem, to witness his delivering their gift faithfully, ver. 18, 19.-a measure which he highly approved; because, in this affair, he wished to avoid all suspicion of unfaithfulness, ver. 20, 21.-And that with them he had sent another brother likewise, whom he had found faithful in many things, ver. 22.—Now that these messengers might meet with due respect from the Corinthians, the apostle informed them, that if any of the faction inquired concerning Titus, they might reply, he was his fellow-labourer in preaching the gospel to the Corinthians. Or if they inquired concerning the brethren who accompanied Titus, they were the messengers employed by the OLD TRANSLATION. CHAP. VIII. 1 More over, 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 afiction, 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 them selves: GREEK TEXT. 1 Γνωρίζομεν δε υμιν, αδελφοι, την χαριν του Θεου την δεδομενην εν ταις εκκλησίαις της Μακεδονιας· 2 Ότι εν πολλῃ δοκιμῇ θλίψεως ἡ περίσσεια της χαρας αυτών, και ἡ κατα βαθους πτωχεια αυτών επερισ σευσεν εις τον πλούτον της ἁπλοτητος αυτων· 3 Οτι κατα δυναμιν (μαρτυρω) και ὑπερ δυναμιν αυSaipeTor θαιρετοι· Ver. 1.-1. Make known to you the grace of God. Because the word translated grace, is in ver. 4. rendered by our translators, a gift, and hath that meaning evidently, ver. 6, 7. 19.; also, because the gift of God, is an Hebraism for a very great gift, this verse may be translated, make known to you the exceeding great gift which is given by the churches of Macedonia; namely, to the saints in Judea. Yet I have retained the common translation, supposing the apostle meant to ascribe the charitable disposition of the Macedonians, to the influence of the grace of God, as he does Titus's earnest care about the collection, ver. 16. 2. To the churches of Macedonia. The apostle means the Roman province of Macedonia, which comprehended all the countries of the Greeks in Europe, not included in the province of Achaia. See 1 Thess. i. 7. note., Of these churches, the most forward, I doubt not, was the church of the Philippians, which on every occasion shewed a great regard to all the apostle's desires, together with an anxious concern for the advancement of the gospel, and much willingness to part with their money for every laudable purpose. churches, to carry their collections to Jerusalem; by which service, they brought glory to Christ, ver. 23.-Being therefore persons so respectable, he hoped the Corinthians would give them and the churches, whose messengers they were, full proof of their good disposition, and of his boasting concerning them, by treating them with every mark of affection and esteem, ver. 24. NEW TRANSLATION. CHAP. VIII. 1 Now, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God' which is given to the churches of Macedonia; 2 That, in a great trial of affliction, the overflowing of their joy, (xas, 215.) notwithstanding their deep poverty, hath overflowed in the riches of their li berality. 3 For according to THEIR power, (I bear witness,) nay, beyond their power, THEY WERE willing of themselves; COMMENTARY. CHAP. VIII. 1 Now, brethren, to shew the good opinion I have of you, I make known to you the gracious disposition, which hath been given to the churches in the province of Macedonia, hoping ye will follow their example. 2 That, during a great trial by persecution, their exceeding joy, arising from the doctrines and promises of the gospel and from the gifts of the Spirit, so wrought in their minds, that notwithstanding their extreme poverty, it moved them to shew great liberality in their gift to the saints in Judea, from whom the gospel came to them. 3 Their liberality was not the effect of my entreaty; for according to their ability, (I bear them witness,) yea beyond their ability, they were willing of themselves, without my soliciting them. Ver. 2.-1. Notwithstanding their deep poverty. By mentioning the poverty of the Macedonians, as the circumstance which enhanced their libe rality, the apostle in a very delicate manner insinuated to the Corinthians, who were an opulent people, (1 Cor. iv. 8.) that it was their duty to equal, if not to exceed the Macedonians in the greatness of their gift. See ver. 14-From 1 Thess. ii. 14. it appears, that the Christians in Thessalonica had been spoiled of their goods. So also I think the Bereans must have been, Acts xvii. 13. In places of lesser note, the disciples may have been few in number, and not opulent. Ver. 31. Beyond their power. This is no hyperbole, but an animated expression, strongly descriptive of the generosity of the Macedonians. 4 Praying us with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministring to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their ownselves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we de sired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 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 ye 4 Μετα πόλλης παρακλη σεως δεομενοι ἡμων, την χαριν και την κοινωνίαν της διακονί ας της εις τους ἁγιους, δεξασ θαι ἡμας. 5 Και ου καθως ηλπισαμεν, αλλ' ἑαυτους εδωκαν πρωτον τῷ Κυρίῳ, και ημιν, δια θελήματος Θεου. 6 Εις το παρακαλεσαι ἡ μας Τίτον, ἵνα καθώς προε νηρξατο, έτω και επιτελεση, εις ύμας και την χαριν ταυτην. 7 Αλλ' ώσπερ εν παντι περισσεύετε, πιςει, και λογω, και γνώσει, και πασῃ σπουδή, και τη εξ υμων εν ἡμιν εν abound in this grace also. αγαπῃ, ἵνα και εν ταυτη τη 8 I speak not by com χαριτι περισσεύητε· 8 Ου κατ' επιταγην λεγω, mandment, but by occasion αλλα δια της έτερων σπουδης, of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, και το της ημετέρας αγάπης γνησιον δοκιμαζων. 9 Γινώσκετε γαρ την χαριν του Κυριου ήμων Ιησου Χριςου, They were willing to give more than they were well able, considering the distresses under which they themselves laboured. Ver. 5.1. And not as, ηλπισαμεν, we feared. Suidas informs us, that the Attics applied ελπίζειν, to things bad as well as good, consequently it signifies to fear, as well as to hope. Here it signifies to fear, because the apostle cannot be supposed to say, that he hoped the Macedonians would not make the collections. Ver. 8.1. The sincerity. Το γνησιον, the sincere thing. But the neuter adjective is put here for the substantive. Ver. 9.—1. That though he was rich. Jesus Christ was Lord of all things, because the Father created all things by him, and for him, and subjected all things to his dominion. Wherefore, if he had pleased, he might have lived |
