11. Out of that which ye have (é« rod éyew). Wrong. Meyer justly remarks that it would be an indelicate compli- ment to the inclination of the readers, that it had originated from their possession. Render, according to your ability ; better than Rev. owt of your ability.
12. If there be first awilling mind (e¢ 7 mpo9uuia mpoxet- rat). The error of the A. V. consists in regarding mpo in mpoxertat as indicating priority in time, be first ; whereas it signifies position, before one ; as “the hope, or the race, or the joy which 7s set before us.” Heb. vi. 18; xii. 1,2; or “the ex- ample which is se¢ forth,” Jude 7. Hence Rev., correctly, ¢ the readiness ws there.
14. By an equality (€& icornros). *E£, as in ver. 11, ac- cording to. I speak on the principle that your abundance should go to equalize the difference created by their want.
18. The brother whose praise is in the Gospel. Js should be joined with throughout all the churches ; as Rev., whose praise in the Gospel is spread throughout, etc. The per- son referred to has been variously identified with Titus’ brother, Barnabas, Mark, Luke, and Epaenetus, mentioned in Rom. xvi. 5. The reference to Epaenetus has been urged on the ground of a supposed play upon the word praise, epainos ; Epaenetus meaning praiseworthy ; and the parallel is cited in the case of Onesimus profitable, of whom Paul says that he will henceforth be useful, Philem. 11.*
* See an article by James EH. Denison, ‘‘ Expositor,” second series, iii., 154.
Cu. VIII.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. ooo
19. With this grace (év 77 ydpite tavTn). An obscure rend- ering, not much bettered by Rev. Grace is ambiguous. The reference is, of course, to the contribution as a work of love; xdpis being used in the sense of benefaction or bounty. Paul says that the brother was appointed as his fellow-traveller zn the matter of this bounty ; in the prosecution of this kindly act. For appointed, see on Acts xiv. 23; x. 41.
20. Avoiding this (cteAdOpuevos TodTo). The verb, which occurs only here and 2 Thess. ili. 6, means ¢o arrange or provide jor. As preparation involves @ getting together of things, it passes into the meaning of collect, gather: then contract, as the Jurling of sails; so, to draw back, draw one’s self away, as 2 Thess. iii. 6. Connect with we have sent, ver. 18. Compare ch. xii. 17, 18, where it appears that he had been charged with collecting money for his own purposes. *
Abundance (déporntv). Only here in the New Testament. Lit., thackness, and so, of the vigor or strength of the human body or of plants. Thus Hesiod speaks of the ears of corn nod- ding in their thickness. Herodotus: ‘When the harvest was ripe or full grown (dpos), he (Alyattes) marched his army into Milesia” (i, 17). Homer of Patroclus: “ His soul departed, leaving behind his strength (déporhra,” + “ Iliad,” xvi., 857). Herodotus uses it of thickly-falling snow (iv., 31). In the Sep- tuagint it is used of the rich or great, 1 Kings i. 9, princes (A. V., men of Judah); 2 Kings x. 6, great men. The A. V. abundance is better than Rev. bownty, which, though properly implying abundance, is currently taken as synonymous with gift. The reference is to the large contribution.
21. We take thought (zpovootvpevo). Beforehand (po). See on Rom. xii. 17. The words are from Prov. iii. 4, where the Septuagint reads, take thought for honorable things in the sight of the Lord and of men.
* See Dean Plumptre’s article, “St. Paul as a Man of Business,” ‘‘ Exposi- tor,” first series, i., 265. + Some read davdporira manly vigor.
3834 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IX,