It appears from 8, 10 that the Corinthians had avowed the purpose to make a collection for the poor at Jerusalem, and had actually begun the work a year ago. Paul had mentioned this fact to the Macedonians, telling them that the Corinthi- ans were ready to do their part in this business. He now sends Titus and the brethren that the work may at once be completed, and his boasting of them prove to be true. It is plain that he could not have told the Macedonians that the collection at Corinth had already been made, because he not only knew that such was not the fact, but he in this very pas- sage refers to the work as yet to be accomplished. He could hardly say, ' I told the Macedonians you had made your col- lection a year ago and had the money all ready to hand over,' at the very moment he was urging them to collect it. The simple fact is that he had said the Corinthians were ready to do their part in this business, and he begged them to do at once what they intended to do, lest his boasting of their readiness (7rpo^v/xta) should prove to have been unfounded. There is nothing in this inconsistent with perfect truthfulness and open-hearted fairness.
4. Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you miprepared, Ave (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
Paul was attended from city to city by travelling com- panions, who conducted him on his way and ministered to him. 1 Cor. 16, 6. Rom. 15, 24. Acts 17, 14. 15. &g. As he was now in Macedonia it was in accordance with the usual custom that Macedonians should attend liim to Corinth. If they come loith me^ lav eX^coo-tv, sJiall have come, i. e. 'Lest when they come and find you unjjrejKired, i. e. unprepared to do what a year ago you professed your readiness to do, we {that we say not, yoxi) should be ashamed. The failure would indeed be a cause of shame to the Corinthians, but he delicate- ly substitutes himself He appeals to their better feelings when he calls upon them to save him from mortification, in- stead of exhorting them to save themselves from disgrace. Jn this same coiifident hoastmg. The words tt}? Kavx^/o-eco? are omitted by almost all the recent editors from Griesbach down. Tliey arc not found in the MSS. B, C, D, F, G, or tlie ancient versions. They probably wore added by a transcriber from