The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 196

EXPOSITION. Ver. 1.-We do you to wit; rather, t.ae CHAPTER VIII. make 1.nown to you. The phrase is like the Liberality shown by the Macedonian modern " I wish to inform you." In this Churches (vers. 1-5). He is sending Titus and the noxt cho.pter St. Po.ul, ho.ving fully spoken of the joy which ho.d been co.used to to receive their contribution for the Church him by their reception of bis first letter, o.nd of Jerusalem, and he invites them to give having said &s much as he then intended to RCCording to their power (vere. 6-15). S.'\Y in answer to the cho.rges insinuated Recommendation of Titus and the other against him, proceeds to give directions nbout d.elcgntcs (vers. 16-24). the collection for the poorso.ints atJeruso.lem. Ho had alreo.dy spoken of it (1 Cor. xvi. These two chapters (viii. and ix.) form 1-4), but fee.red tho.t they were behind- an independent section of the Epistle. The hand, and now sends Titus to stimulate plural alone (" wo ") is used throughout; their zeal. The style throughout is brief p11rticipial and unfinished constructions and o.llusivo, because ho ho.d ah-eady, in abound; the style is a little embarra.ssed; various wo.ys, brought this matter fully o.nd various words, such o.s " grace,'' "bless- before them. Throughout this section he shows in a remarkable degree the tact, cour- ing," "righteousness," "simplicity," occur tesy, high sense of honour, and practice.I in somewhat unusual shades of meaning. wisdom which were among his many gifts. All this arises: 1. From St. Paul's natural The "but" with which the chapter begins delicacy in alluding to pecuniary subjects. in the originnl is St. Paul's ordinary formula. 2. From e. desire to conciliate the Corinthians, of transition, e.s in I Cor. vii. 1 ; xii. 1; xiii 1, etc. (For the phrase, " we inform while e.t the same time he cannot conceal you," see 1 Cor. xii. 3; xv. 1.) It is one of from them o. little apprehension that they numberless incidentnl proofs of the genuine- were rather more forward and zeolous in ness of this group of Epistles-the Epistles words than in deeds. Their large promises of the second great missionary jourpey- had led him to speak of them in a way the.t the same words, phrases, and thoughts constantly recur in them. The gre.oe· of God which seemed unlikely to be justified by ( see next note). Bestowed on the Churohes of the fulfilment. He was thns more or leas Macedonia ; rather, which is being bestowed, under the influence of conflicting emotions. in the Churches. St. Po.ul wants to tell the Out of patriotism (Rom. ix. 3) and compas- Corinthians how extremely libero.I the Ma- cedonie.ns have been, since it was his custom sion, and an effort to fulfil an old pledge to stir up one Church by the example of (Go.I. ii 10), and a desire to conciliate and, another (eh.ix. 2); but he begins by spenk- if possible, win over the affection of the ing of their generosity ns o. proof of' the Jewish Chw·ch-which had been much grace which they are receiving from the e.liene.ted from him by differences of opinion Holy Spirit. The Churches of Macedonia. The only Macedonian Churches of which and by assiduous calumnies-and from a we have any details in' the New Testament wish to show that his Gentile converts were are those of Philippi, Thesso.lonica., and faithful and loving brethren (Rom. xv. 31), Berma. They seem to have been peculiarly he was intensely anxious that the contribu- dear to St. Paul, who was attracted by their tion should be a large one. This feeling is cheerfulness in afiliction and their generosity apparent, not only throughout every line of in the ruidst of want. Ver. 2.-ln e. great trial of affliction ; this appeal, with the solemn topics which it rather, in much testing of ajfl,iction; i.e. in introduces, bnt e.lllo in all his other allusions an affliction which put to the proof their to the subject (Rom. xv. 26; l Cor. xvi.; Christian character. "They were not simply Acts :a:. 22 ; xxi. 4, etc.). On the other afflicted," says St. Chrysostom, "but in such hand, he was careful lest he should seem to e. way as also to become approved by their endure.nee." (For the word rendered "trial,'' have even the mr,st distant personal aims, and see Hom. v. 4, and in this Epistle, eh. ii. 9; k.t he should l.iy on his Gentile converts a ill. J::l; xiii. 3.) "Affliction" seems to have ,dwlly uufamiliar l,urden. be/':d lcn the Cl111rcLc& of l\foccdonin very cu. vm. 1-24.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. HJ,3