4. Confident boasting (i7ocrdce:). Primarily something put under, foundation, ground ; so substance (sub, stans, stand- ing under), substanteal quality: thence steadiness, confidence. Compare Heb. iii. 14; xi. 1. In the Septuagint the word rep- resents fifteen different Hebrew words.
5. Go before. Notice the thrice repeated before, emphasiz- ing the injunction to have everything ready before Paul’s ar- rival.
Make up beforehand (mpoxatapticwow). Adjust. See on Matt. iv. 21; xxi. 16; Luke vi. 40; 1 Pet. v. 10.
Bounty (evroyiav). Lit., blessing. In this sense only here in the New Testament. In the Septuagint indifferently of gift or blessing. See Gen. xxxiii. 11; Judg.i.15; Ezek. xxxiv. 26. In Proy. xi. 25, liberal sow is rendered by Sept., evroyovmevn blessed.
Whereof ye had notice before (srpoernyyeAnuevnv). Rev., better, your afore-promised bounty. The bounty promised by you, or by me on your behalf.
6. Bountifully (é7’ edroylass). Lit., with blessings. Com- pare 1 Cor. ix. 10, “ plow im hope (ém’ édzriéu).”
7. Purposeth (spoaspetrar). Read ponpntas, perfect tense, hath purposed.
Grudgingly (é« Avans). Lit., out of sorrow.
Cheerful (‘Aapov). Only here in the New Testament. See on the kindred ‘Aapérns cheerfulness, note on Rom. xii. 8.
God loveth, etc. From Prov. xxii. 9, where the Hebrew is, a kind man shall be blessed. Sept., God blesseth a man who as cheerful and a giver.
8. Always—ail—in everything. Nearly reproducing the play on the word ald in the Greek.
Cu. IX.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 335
Sufficiency (aitdpxecav), Only here and 1 Tim. vi. 6. The kindred adjective avtdpxns, A. V., content, occurs Philip. iv. 11 (see note). The word properly means self-sufficiency, and is one of those which show Paul’s acquaintance with Stoicism, and the influence of its vocabulary upon his own. It expressed the Stoic conception of the wise man as being sufficient in him- self, wanting nothing and possessing everything.* Here, not in the sense of sufficiency of worldly goods, but of that moral quality, bound up with self-consecration and faith, which rend- ers the new self in Christ independent of external circum- stances.
9. He hath dispersed abroad (écxdpmicev). As in sowing, ver. 6. Ps. cxii. 9. Almost literally after the Hebrew and Septuagint.
10. Ministereth (émiyopnyav). Rev., supplieth. See on add, 2 Pet. i. 5.
Both minister bread, etc. Construe bread with supplieth, as Rev., supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food.
Minister and multiply (yopynyjoar cab mAnIvva). The correct reading is the future, yopnyjoet Kal wANIuve’ shall sup- ply and multiply.
The fruits (ra yevnuara). Lit., what has been begotten or born. Used of men, Matt. iii. 7, A. V., generation, Rev., off- spring. Elsewhere of fruits, as fruit of the vine, Mark xiv. 25.
11. Liberality (amdorHra). Better singleness or simplicity of heart. See on Rom. xii. 8.
12. Service (Aevtovpylas). Also rendered ministry or min- istration (A. V. and Rev.), as Luke i. 23; Heb. viii. 6; ix. 21. See on Luke i. 23. The word is used of this same contribution, Rom. xv. 7.
Supplieth (éoriv mpocavardnpovca). Lit., fills up by add- ing to. Only here and ch. xi. 9. Supplementing what the saints lack.
* See Bishop Lightfoot’s essay, ‘‘ Paul and Seneca,” in his ‘‘ Commentary on Philippians,’’ where he has collected a number of similar instances.
336 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IX.
Through many thanksgivings. The need of the poor is filled, like an empty vessel, to the brim, and the supply over- flows in the thanksgiving which it calls out. Thus christian beneficence does a double work, in giving relief and in generat- ing thankfulness.
13. Experiment of this ministration (Soxtujs tHs Suaxovias tavtns). Commentators differ as to the interpretation; the difference hinging on the question whether the ¢rzal (experi- ment) applies to the service itself, or to those who render it: hence either “the proving of you by this ministration,” as Rev., or the tried character of this ministration. Aoxiwn may mean either the process of proving or the state of being approved, ap- provedness. The difference is immaterial.