things, but now much more dihgent, upon the great confidence which (I have) in you.
Who this second brother was whom Paul sent to accom- pany Titus and his fellow-traveller, there is no means of deter- mining. The apostle had proved him to be airovSalov^ earnest or diligent, iv ttoAAois TroAAaKts, in many things many times. J^ut noio^ i. e. on this occasion, micch 7nore diligent or earnest. His zeal and alacrity was greatly excited hy the confidence which he has in regard to you. He was so assured of success that he entered on his mission with the greatest earnestness. This interpretation, which most commentators adopt, and which in our English Bibles is suggested in the margin, is more natural than that preferred by Calvin, Beza and others. They connect the word TreiroL^-qa-eL with orweTre/xi/^a/xer, 'We sent the brother with them ; ... on account of the confidence we have in you.' This, however, was not the reason for the mission ; nor does it suit the context to say, ' we sent him with confidence.' The position of the words is in favour of the explanation first mentioned.
23. Whether (any do inquire) of Titus, (he is) my partner and felloAv-helper concerning you : or our breth- ren (be inquired of, they are) the messengers of the churches, (and) the glory of Christ.
This is a recapitulation, or summary commendation. The language in the original is very concise. Whether concerning Titus^ i. e. whether I speak of Titus ; or. Whether any do in- quire concerning Titus; or, without supplying any thing, 'As to Titus.' lie is tny partner., koivwvo?, my associate, one who has a part with me in a common ministry. And^ specially, CIS concerns you my felloio-lahorer (o-vi/epyos). Whether our brethren., (they are) the messengers {a-ocrrokoi) of the churches. The word apostle is here obviously used in its hteral, and not in its ofiicial sense. These men were surely not apostles in the sense in which Paul was. In like manner, in Phil. 2, 25, Epaphroditus is called the apostle of the Philippians, because he was their messenger sent to minister to Paul at Rome. Both the brethren, therefore, above mentioned, and not only the one of whom it is said specially that he was chosen by the churches, were delegated by the people. They are further said to be the glory of Christ. As Christ alone, says Calvin,