2 Corinthians 12:18

I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

Tasker convincingly affirms that "I sent" as used here should not be translated in the past tense, but as "epistolary," and translated in English as the present tense; because these men "had not arrived in Corinth when 2Corinthians was written, but they will have done so by the time the Corinthians receive the letter."[37] This is an important distinction, having the impact of proof that "2 Corinthians 12 was not written before 2 Corinthians 8."[38] This, of course, refutes any notion of these last chapters being part of a previously written "severe letter." The argument is simple enough. Titus is standing by, here in 2 Corinthians 12, just as he was in 2 Corinthians 8, to bear this epistle to the Corinthians.

Did Titus take advantage of you ... is a reference to Titus' having begun the business of the collection at the time of the delivery of the first epistle. It does not refer to an interim visit of Titus between the canonical epistles. The understanding of the epistolary tense in this verse is crucial in the interpretation of it. Filson also testified that "The visit meant here is perhaps the first one."[39] Paul's question affirms in the accepted idiom of that day the absolute integrity, honesty and sincerity of Titus and the unnamed Christian brother.

[37] R. V. G. Tasker, op. cit., p. 183.

[38] Ibid.

[39] Floyd V. Filson, op. cit., p. 414.