14. And by their prayer for you, which long after you, for the exceeding grace of God in you.
This verse admits of a threefold construction. It may be connected with v. 12, Serycret being parallel with 8ta 7roXkC)v €vx. 'Your liberality is abundant, or overflowing, (-Treptcrcrcuovcra,) through many thanksgivings — and by their prayer for you.' That is, our liberality is j^roductive of abundant good, not only by calling forth thanksgiving to God, but also by leading the objects of your kindness to pray for you. This is a full compensation. The prayers and blessings of the poor are their benefactions to the rich, descending on them as the dew on Hermon. Or the connection may be with So^a^ovre? in v. 13. 'They glorify God for your obedience, . . . and by their prayer.' But in this case, the natural meaning would be, (ScT/cret being co-ordinate with {'7roTayT7),,'They glorify God for your subjection — and for their prayer.' This does not give a good sense. Believers do not glorify God for their prayers. Others, as Meyer, take a{Tcoi/ iirtTro^vvTiDv together as the genitive absolute, and Kai, not as a?id^ but also. ' You (Co- rinthians) manifest your fellowship for them — they also with prayer for you earnestly longing for you.' This gives a perti- nent sense. The first mentioned explanation is, however, generally preferred. I^or the exceeding grace of God i?i you. That is, on account of (Sta t^v x^P"'?) the surpassing grace, or favour of God manifested towards or upon you (e</)' v\kIv) ; in that he had rendered them so liberal, and so filled them with a Christian spirit.
15. Thanks (be) unto God for his unspeakable gift.
According to Calvin, and perhaps the majority of com- mentators, the gift to which Paul refers, is that spoken of in the context, viz., the grace bestowed on the Corinthians, or the good effect anticipated from their liberality. Confident that the Corinthians would be liberal, and that their liberality would excite the gratitude of their suffering brethren, and cement the union between the Jewish and Gentile converts, the apostle breaks forth in this expression of thanksgiving to God, for bringing about so haj^py a consummation. But the language is too strong for this. God's unspeakable gift is his Son. This, according to the analogy of Scripture, is that one