we do you to wit--we make known to you.
the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia--Their liberality was not of themselves naturally, but of God's grace bestowed on them, and enabling them to be the instrument of God's "grace" to others (Co2 8:6, Co2 8:19). The importance given in this Epistle to the collection, arose as well from Paul's engagement (Gal 2:10), as also chiefly from his hope to conciliate the Judaizing Christians at Jerusalem to himself and the Gentile believers, by such an act of love on the part of the latter towards their Jewish brethren.
abundance of their joy--The greater was the depth of their poverty, the greater was the abundance of their joy. A delightful contrast in terms, and triumph, in fact, of spirit over flesh.
their deep poverty--Greek, "their poverty down to the death of it."
abounded unto the riches of their liberality--another beautiful contrast in terms: their poverty had the effect, not of producing stinted gifts, but of "abounding in the riches of liberality" (not as Margin, "simplicity"; though the idea of singleness of motive to God's glory and man's good, probably enters into the idea); (compare Rom 12:8, and Margin; Co2 9:11, Margin; see on Co2 9:13; Jam 1:5).
of themselves--not only not being besought, but themselves beseeching us.
by the will of God--not "according to the will of God," but "moved by the will of God, who made them willing" (Phi 2:13). It is therefore called (Co2 8:1), "the grace of God."
as he had begun--Greek, "previously begun," namely, the collection at Corinth, before the Macedonians began to contribute, during the visit to Corinth from which he had just returned.
finish in you the same grace--complete among you this act of grace or beneficence on your part.
also--as well as other things which he had to do among them [ALFORD].
utterance--(See on Co1 1:5). Not as ALFORD, "doctrine" or "word."
knowledge-- (Co1 8:1).
diligence--in everything that is good.
your love to us--literally, "love from you (that is, on your part) in us" (that is, which has us for its object; which is felt in the case of us).
but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and &c.--rather, "But by (mention of) the forwardness of others (as an inducement to you), and to prove (literally, 'proving') the sincerity of your love." The Greek is "by means of," not "on account of the forwardness," &c. BENGEL, ELLICOTT, and others translate, "By means of the forwardness of others, proving the sincerity of your love ALSO." The former is the simpler construction in the Greek.
became poor--Yet this is not demanded of you (Co2 8:14); but merely that, without impoverishing yourselves, you should relieve others with your abundance. If the Lord did so much more, and at so much heavier a cost, for your sakes; much more may you do an act of love to your brethren at so little a sacrifice of self.
might be rich--in the heavenly glory which constitutes His riches, and all other things, so far as is really good for us (compare Co1 3:21-22).
this--my giving you an advice, not a command.
who have begun before--"seeing that ye have begun before" the Macedonian churches; "a year ago" should be connected with this clause.
not only to do, but also to be forward--There were three steps: (1) the forwardness, more literally, "the will"; (2) the setting about it, literally, "doing it"; (3) completion of it [ALFORD]. In the two former, not only the act, but the intention, the Corinthians preceded the Macedonians. BENGEL explains, "Not only to do" FOR THE PAST YEAR, "but also to be forward" or willing FOR THIS YEAR. ELLICOTT translates, "already," instead of "before": "Ye began already a year ago, not only to do, but also to be forward." It appears hence, that something had been done in the matter a year before; other texts, however, show the collection was not yet paid (compare Co2 8:11 and Co2 9:5, Co2 9:7). This agrees with one, and only one supposition, namely, that every man had laid by in store the fund from which he was afterwards to contribute, the very case which is shown by Co1 16:2 to have existed [PALEY, HorÃ&brvbr; PaulinÃ&brvbr;].
a readiness to will--Greek, "the readiness of will"; referring to Co2 8:10, where the Greek for "to be forward," ought to be translated as here, "to will."
performance--"completion" [ALFORD], The godly should show the same zeal to finish, as well as to begin well, which the worldly exhibit in their undertakings (Jer 44:25).
a willing mind--rather, as Greek, "the readiness," namely, to will, referring to Co2 8:11.
accepted--Greek "favorably accepted."
according to that a man hath--The oldest manuscripts omit "a man." Translate, "According to whatsoever it have"; the willing mind, or "readiness" to will, is personified [ALFORD]. Or better, as BENGEL, "He is accepted according to whatsoever he have"; so Co2 9:7, The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." Compare as to David, Kg1 8:18. God accepts the will for the deed. He judges not according to what a man has the opportunity to do, but according to what he would do if he had the opportunity (compare Mar 14:8; and the widow's mite, Luk 21:3-4).
now at this time--Greek, "at the present juncture" or season.
that their abundance also--The Greek being distinct from the previous "that," translate, "in order that," namely, at another season, when your relative circumstances may be reversed. The reference is solely to temporal wants and supplies. Those, as BENGEL, who quote Rom 15:27 for interpreting it of spiritual supplies from the Jews to the Gentiles, forget that Rom 15:27 refers to the past benefit spiritually, which the Jews have conferred on the Gentiles, as a motive to gratitude on the part of the latter, not to a prospective benefit to be looked for from the former, which the text refers to.
for you--Translate, "Which put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus," as was in myself. My care for you led me to "desire" him (Co2 8:6, Co2 8:17, "exhortation," the same Greek); but Titus had of himself the same care, whence he "accepted (gladly) my exhortation" (Co2 8:17) to go to you (Co2 8:6).
he went--Greek, "went forth." We should say, he is going forth; but the ancients put the past tense in letter writing, as the things will have been past by the time that the correspondent, receives the letter. "Of his own accord," that is, it is true he has been exhorted by me to go, but he shows that he has anticipated my desires, and already, "of his own accord," has desired to go.
chosen--by vote: so the Greek.
of the churches--therefore these companions of Paul are called "messengers of the churches" (Co2 8:23).
to travel--to Jerusalem.
with this grace--Greek, "in the case of this grace," or "gift."
to the glory of the same Lord--The oldest manuscripts omit "same."
declaration of your ready mind--The oldest manuscripts read, "our," not your. This and the previous clause, "to the glory of the same Lord," do not follow "administered by us," but "chosen of the churches to travel," &c. The union of the brother with Paul in this affair of the collection was done to guard against suspicions injurious "to the glory" of the Lord. It was also done in order to produce a "readiness" on the part of Paul and the brother to undertake the office which each, by himself, would have been less ready to undertake, for fear of suspicions arising (Co2 8:20) as to their appropriation of any of the money.
in this abundance--in the case of this abundance.
honest things--"things honorable."
oftentimes . . . in many things--Join and translate as in the Greek, "many times in many things."
upon the great confidence which I have in you--"through the great confidence WHICH HE HAS towards you" [ALFORD]. BENGEL better supports English Version, "We have sent . . . through the confidence WHICH WE FEEL in regard to your liberality."
our brethren--the two mentioned in Co2 8:18, Co2 8:22.
messengers--rather, as the Greek, "apostles": in the less strict sense (Act 14:14).
of the churches--sent by the churches, as we are by the Lord (Phi 2:25). There was in the synagogue an ecclesiastical officer, called "the angel of the Church," whence the title seems derived (compare Rev 2:1).