2 Corinthians 8:1-24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:16

But thanks be to God ,.... The apostle proceeds to give an account of the persons and their characters, who were employed in making this collection at Corinth for the poor saints, and begins with Titus; and the rather because he had been already concerned in setting afoot that good work among them; and gives thanks to God, which , says he, put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you , by "earnest care" is meant that very great carefulness, solicitude, and diligence,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:17

For indeed, he accepted the exhortation ,.... The Macedonians besought the apostle with much entreaty to give unto him, 2 Corinthians 8:4 or which being moved by their example, they gave unto him, namely, that he would go and finish what he had already begun; and accordingly he did not refuse, but readily accepted the exhortation: yea, not only so, but being more forward ; than was known or could have been expected; which shows that this was put into his heart by God, before it was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:18

And we have sent with him the brother ,.... The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "our brother"; and one of Stephens's copies, "your brother": who this brother was, is not certain; some think it was Luke the evangelist, the companion of the apostle in his travels: whose praise is in the Gospel, throughout all the churches ; being known and highly commended by all the churches, for the Gospel he wrote; but it is not certain that Luke as yet had wrote his Gospel; and much less that it was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:19

And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches ,.... Not only famous for preaching the Gospel, but he was also appointed by the joint suffrages of the churches, which were made by the lifting up or stretching out of the hand, as the word here used signifies; this brother was not chosen to this service by a few private persons, or by a single church only, but by several churches; which does not refer to the churches at Jerusalem and Antioch, as if the apostles were appointed, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:20

Avoiding this, that no man should blame us ,.... There is an allusion in these words to mariners, who, when sensible of danger, steer their course another way, in order to shun a rock and secure themselves. So the apostles being aware of the censorious spirits of some persons, and to prevent all suspicion of their converting any part of what they had collected to their own private use, sent Titus with it, a man of known probity and integrity; and he not by himself only, but another brother... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:21

Providing for honest things ,.... Or premeditating, forecasting, or considering before hand in the mind, things that are good, that are of good report among men, as well as accounted good by God; for it becomes professors of religion, and especially ministers of the Gospel, to be careful not only to exercise a good conscience towards God; but so to behave, that they may obtain and preserve the good opinion of men; for when they have once lost their credit and reputation among men, their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:22

And we have sent with him our brother ,.... This is a third person sent about this business. The apostle, in this, conformed to the customs of his nation; at least if he did not purposely do it, it agrees with the Jewish canons, which require three persons for the distribution of alms. "The alms dish, (they say F24 T. Hieros. Peah, fol. 21. 1. ) is by three; nor do they appoint פרנסין פחות משלשה "overseers" of it "less than three".' Again, they say F25 Misn. Peah, c. 8.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:23

Whether any do inquire of Titus ,.... The apostle here sums up the characters of each of the above persons; as for Titus, he says, he is my partner ; he had been his companion in his travels, a partner with him in preaching the Gospel, as well as in the troubles and persecutions he had met with; and was one with whom he had had sweet communion and fellowship: and fellow helper ; or worker, concerning you ; he had been a joint instrument with him, either in their conversion, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:24

Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches ,.... This is the conclusion of the apostle, upon summing up the characters of these messengers; and his exhortation is, that since they were persons of so much note and worth, as they ought to be received with great marks of respect and affection, so they would take care evidently to make it appear to them who were sent by the churches, and before the churches, or before them who represented the churches; or so as that it might be known by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 8:1

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit - In all our dignified version very few ill-constructed sentences can be found; however here is one, and the worst in the book. We do you to wit is in the original γνωριζομεν δε ὑμιν , we make known unto you. This is plain and intelligible, the other is not so; and the form is now obsolete. The grace of God bestowed - Dr. Whitby has made it fully evident that the χαρις Θεου signifies the charitable contribution made by the Churches in Macedonia,... read more

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