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. 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, doxμáw for “drawing out a proof," and you 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 Thy xáp," the grace," rather "the munificence," the signification wherein St. Paul uses xápis 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. 22 in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. With 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 s 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. TEXT. 5 Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man, according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give ; not grudgingly, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, "He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever." 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness :) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth, through us, thanksgiving to God. PARAPHRASE. 5 I thought it, therefore, necessary to put the brethren upon going before unto you, to prepare things, by a timely notice beforehand, that your contribution may be ready, as a free benevolence of yours, and not as a niggardly gift, extorted 6 from you. This, I say, "He who soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he who soweth plentifully, shall also 7 reap plentifully. So give, as you find yourselves disposed, every one, in his own heart, not grudgingly, as if it were 8 wrung from you; for God loves a cheerful giver. For God is able to make every charitable gifth of yours redound to your advantage; that, you having in every thing, always, a fulness 9 of plenty, ye may abound in every good work: (As it is written, "He hath scattered, he hath given to the poor, and his 10 liberality remaineth for ever." Now he, that supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your stock of seed, and increase the fruit of your liberality :) 11 Enriched in every thing to all beneficence, which, by me, as NOTES. 8 h Xápis, "grace," rather "charitable gift," or "liberality," as it signifies in the former chapter, and as the context determines the sense here. 9 : Δικαιοσύνη, "righteousness," rather "liberality;" for so dixa.coúva, in Scripture language, often signifies. And so, Matt. vi. 1, for iλenμooúvny, “alms,' some copies have dixon, "liberality." And so Joseph, Matt. i. 19, is called Bixas, "just, benign." k 10 Zrópov, “seed sown," rather "your seed, and seed-plot," i. e. increase your plenty, to be laid out in charitable uses. TEXT. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also, by many thanksgivings unto God. 13 (Whilst, by the experiment of this ministration, they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men ;) 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you, for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. PARAPHRASE. 12 instrumental in it, procureth thanksgiving to God. For the performance of this service doth not only bring supply to the wants of the saints, but reacheth farther, even to God himself, 13 by many thanksgivings (Whilst they, having such a proof of you, in this your supply, glorify God for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberality, in 14 communicating to them, and to all men ;) And to the procuring their prayers for you, they having a great inclination towards you, because of that gracious gift of God bestowed on 15 them by your liberality. Thanks be to God for this his unspeakable gift. SECTION IV. CHAPTER X. 1.-XIII. 10. CONTENTS. ST. Paul having finished his exhortation to liberality, in their collection for the Christians at Jerusalem, he here resumes his former argument, and prosecutes the main purpose of this epistle, which was totally to reduce and put a final end to the adverse faction, (which seems not yet to be entirely extinct) by bringing the Corinthians wholly off from the false apostle they had adhered to; and to re-establish himself and his authority in the minds of all the members of that church. And this he does, by the steps contained in the following numbers. |