TEXT.

yea, what zeal; yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause 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.

PARAPHRASE.

having been so misled! You have shown yourselves to be set right*, and be, as you should be, in every thing, by this car12 riage of yours. If, therefore, I 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, as in the 13 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 disposi

NOTES.

"Clear." This word answers very well άyvòs, in the Greek: but then, to be clear, in English, is generally understood to signify, not to have been guilty; which could not be the sense of the apostle, he having charged the Corinthians so warmly in his first epistle. His meaning must therefore be, "that they had now resolved on a contrary course, and were so far clear," i. e. were set right, and in good disposition again, as he describes it, in the former part of this verse. + And therefore I think iv r payμari may be best rendered "in fact," i. e. by your sorrow, your fear, your indignation, your 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 confidence 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.

TEXT.

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.

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 Í rejoice, therefore, that I have confidence in you in all things.

PARAPHRASE.

14 tion he found you all 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 com15 mendation, he has found to be true; Whereby his affection to you is abundantly increased, he carrying in his mind the universal obedience of you all, unanimously, to me, and the 16 manner of your receiving him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, therefore, that I have confidence in you in all things.

NOTE.

13 d Vid. ver. 15.

SECTION III.

CHAPTER 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 ;

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 ownselves 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.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

PARAPHRASE.

b

1 Moreover, brethren, I make known to you the gift", which, by the grace of God, is given in the churches of Mace2 donia: viz. That, amidst the afflictions they have been much tried with, they have, with exceeding cheerfulness and joy, made their very low estate of poverty yield a rich con3 tribution of liberality: Being forward of themselves (as I must bear them witness) to the utmost of their power; nay, and 4 beyond their power: Earnestly intreating me to receive their contribution, and be a partner with others, in the charge of 5 conveying and distributing it to the 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 6 the good 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 on among you, till it was perfected: That, as you excel in every thing, abounding in faith, in well-speaking, in knowledge, in every good quality, and in your affection to me; ye might abound 8 in this act of charitable liberality also. This I say to you,

a

NOTES.

1 Xápis, which is translated, "grace," is here used, by St. Paul, for "gift," or "liberality," and is so used, ver. 4, 6, 7, 9, 19, and 1 Cor. xvi. 3. It is called

also χάρις Θεοῦ, the “ gift of God," because God is the author and procurer of it, moving their hearts to it. Besides, dedoμény év 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.

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.

d

PARAPHRASE.

ye

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 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, donμá?w for " drawing out a proof,” and yvýσov 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 4 Τὴν χάριν, "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.

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 f, 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

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.