TEXT. that had done the wrong, nor for his cause, that suffered wrong, but that our care for you, in the sight of God, might appear unto you. 13 Therefore, we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we, for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 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. PARAPHRASE. wrote unto you, concerning the fornicator, it was not for his sake, that had done, nor his that had suffered the wrong; but principally, that my care and concern for you might be made known to you, 13 as in the presence of God. Therefore, I was comforted in your comfort: but much more exceedingly rejoiced I, in the joy of Titus; because his mind was set at ease, by the good disposition he found you all 14 in towards me*. 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 commendation, he has found to be true; NOTES. zeal, &c. I think it cannot well be translated, "in this matter," understanding thereby the punishment of the fornicator. For that was not the matter St. Paul had been speaking of; but the corinthians siding with the false apostle against him, was the subject of the preceding part of this, and of the three or four foregoing chapters; wherein he justifies himself against their slanders, and invalidates the pretences of the adverse party. This is that, which lay chiefly upon his heart, and which he labours, might and main, both in this and the former epistle, to rectify, as the foundation of all the disorders amongst them; and, consequently, is the matter, wherein he rejoices to find them all set right. Indeed, in the immediately following verse, he mentions his having writ to them, concerning the fornicator; but it is only as an argument of his kindness and concern for them: but that, which was the great cause of his rejoicing, what it was that gave him the great satisfaction, was the breaking of the faction, and the re-uniting them "all" to himself, which he expresses in the word "all," emphatically used, ver. 13, 15; and, from thence, he concludes thus, ver. 16, "I rejoice, therefore, that I have confi"dence in you in all things.” His mind was now at rest, the partisans of his opposer, the false apostle, having forsaken that leader, whom they had so much gloried in, and being all now come over to St. Paul, he doubted not, but all would go well; and so leaves off the subject he had been upon, in the seven foregoing chapters, viz. the justification of himself, with here and there reflections on that false apostle. 13 Vid. ver. 15. ४ TEXT. 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. 15 Whereby his affection to you is abundantly. increased, he carrying in his mind the universal obedience of you all, unanimously to me, and the manner of your receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, therefore, that I have confidence in you in all things. SECT. III. CHAP. 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. TEXT. 1 MOREOVER, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God, bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. PARAPHRASE. 1 MOREOVER, brethren, I make known to you the gift* which, by the grace of God, is given in the churches NOTE. 1 * Xápis, which is translated, “ grace," is here used, by St. Paul, for "gift," or 66 liberality," and is so used, ver. 4, 6, 7, 9, 19, and 1 Cor. xvi. 3. TEXT. 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 gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired 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 you abound in this grace also. PARAPHRASE. 2 of Macedonia: viz. That amidst the afflictions* they have been much tried with, they have, with exceeding chearfulness and joy, made their very low estate of poverty yield a rich contribution of liberality: 3 Being forward of themselves (as I must bear them witness) to the utmost of their power; nay, and be4 yond their power: Earnestly intreating me to receive their contribution, and be a partner with others, in the charge of conveying and distributing it to the 5 saints, And in this they out-did my expectation, who could not hope for so large a collection from them. But they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to me, to dispose of what they had, according as the good 6 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 7 on among you, till it was perfected: That, as you excel in every thing, abounding in faith, in wellspeaking, in knowledge, in every good quality, and in NOTES. It is called also xapise, the "gift of God," because God is the author and procurer of it, moving their hearts to it. Besides Sedouévny v cannot signify bestowed on," but "given in," or "by." 2 How ill-disposed and rough to the christians the macedonians were, may be seen, Acts xvi. and xvii. TEXT. 8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion 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, 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 PARAPHRASE. your affection to me; ye might abound in this act of 8 charitable liberality also. This I say to you, not as a command from God, but on occasion of the great liberality of the churches of Macedonia, and to show the world a proof of the genuine, noble temper of your 9 love*. For ye know the munificence † of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, being rich, made himself poor for your sakes, that you, by his poverty, might become 10 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 NOTES. 8 * Τὸ τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀγάπης γνήσιον δοκιμάζων, “ 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, 66 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, Soxμálwv for "drawing out a proof," and yhotov for “genuine," the words very well express St. Paul's obliging way of stirring up the corinthiaus 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 collec"tion 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 oppor"tunity 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 xápi, "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. 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. 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 hath gathered much, had nothing 66 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: PARAPHRASE. to the doing of it in earnest; so that, as you undertook it readily, you would as readily perform it, out 12 of what you have: For every man's charity is accepted by God, according to the largeness and willingness of his heart, in giving, and not according 13 to the narrowness of his fortune. For my meaning 16 66 is not, that you should be burthened to ease others: 14 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 15 your deficiency, that there may be an equality: As it is written, "He that had much, had nothing over, and he that had little, had no lack." But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the 17 same concern for you, Who not only yielded to my exhortation*: but, being more than ordinary concerned for you, of his own accord went unto you: 18 With whom I have sent the brother †, who has praise through all the churches, for his labour in the 17 Vid. ver. 6. NOTES. 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. |