The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 197

hor1vlly (1 These. i. 6; ii, 14), ohiofly through impossible to expect much from them, l,nt tho jealousy of tho Jews, who excited the they surpassed my expecta.tiona in every way. hatred of tho Gentiles (Acts xvi. 20; xvii. The Church of Philippi, perhaps under the 5, 13). The abUDdanoe of their joy, An- in~uence of Lydia, was remarkable for gcne- othor referonco to joy in sadness (see on eh. ros1ty, and was the only Church from which vii. 4). There is not the least necessity to St. Paul would accept o.ny personal help undorsto.nd the verb" is" or" was" o.fter this (Phil. ii. 25; iv. 15-18). First. "They olnueo. ·• The abundance .. , abounded" gave them8elves to the Lord, which is the best is indeed o pleonasm, but is not nt nil unlike of all, and they gave themaelves as helpers the style of St. Paul. He means to any that to us also-by the will of God." (I•'or a their joy overilowed their nilliction, and their similar use of "anrl" to imply a matter of libemlity overflowed thoir poverty (Mark less importance, see Acts xv. 28.) Tho xii. 44). Their deep poverty; liternlly, their phrase, "by the will of God," implicoi a pauperism to the depth ; their obysme.l pen- thanksgiving to God for the grace wnich ury. Though they were {Ja86rrn,,xo1, they enabled them to give themselves to him, showed themselves in generosity to be {Ja.86- and !heir goods to his saints. Being "a. ""ov.-o,. Sto.nley refers to Arnold's ' Roman peculiar people," they naturally shnwed Commonwealth,' where he mentions thnt themselves "zealous of good works" (Titus the provinces of Mo.cedonie. ond Achaio., ii. 14). First (Rom. i. lti; ii. 9, 10). which hod suffered grently in the three civil Ver. 6.-Insomnch that. Their liberality wo.rs, appealed successfully to Tiberius for encouraged me so greatly that I exhorted o. diminution of their burdens. The gift Titus to return to Corinth once more, and ot' the Mncedonians was like the widow's see whether he could not receive some proof mite (Luke xxi. 3, 4, where similar words that you were eq nally liberal. The remarks occur----perisseuo, huste1·iima). Of their liber- that follow are foll of delicate reserve, but ality; rather, of their singleness of purpose under their exquisite tact and urbanity we or simplicity (Eph. vi. 5). The "grace" can perceive that the Corinthians had talked nnd single-heartedness to which he alludes very loudly about their contributions, and showed themselves in liberality. had promised with great zeal, but had shown Ver. 3.-They were willing of themselves. themselves somewhat slack in redeeming "Of their own o.ccord," as in ver. 17. The *heir promises. We exhorted Titus. It is verb in the original is energetically omitted, curious that this 'l'l'ord is constantly used of with the "they gave" of ver. 5. St. Paul the missions of Titus (ver. 17 ; eh. xii. 18; does not mean that the notion of me.king the 1 Cor. xvi.12). Ashe had begun. "That as collection originated with them ( oh. ix. 2), he inaugurated (this collection), so he would but only that they displayed a voluntary also complete towards yon this gracious work energy in carrying it out. also." Among other works of grace which Ver. 4.-Praying 'llB, The entreaties came Titus might complete by returning to them lrom them, not from me. That we would from Macedonio. was the kindly collection receive. These words are almost certainly an which he had began to set on foot in his eKple.natory gloss. The translation then is, previous visit ( eh. xii. 18). "begging us for the grace of participation Ver. 7.-Therefore; rather, but. In the in this ministration to the saints." They following verses to ver. 15 he tells them his were so willing in the matter that they en- wishes about this collection. He desires treo.ted me, as a favour (xdp,s), to allow them them to show generosity among their other to have a sho.re in this contribution, because graces (ver. 7), not by way of comIDBJld, but it wns to be given to the saints, the1t is, the that they may emulate others and show their suffering poor in the Church of Jerusalem. love (ver. 8) by following the example of This Church suffered from chronic poverty. Christ (ver. 9). And by o.cting thus they Even the Jewish population were liable to would prove the sincerity of their former famines, in one of which they had only been promises (vers. 10, 11), especially us he did kopt a.live by the royal munificence of a not wish them to give more than they conld proselyte, Queen Helena, of Adie.bane. The ju~tly spare by way of reciprocity (vers. Christiane would, of course, suffer even more 12-15). As ye aboUDd in every thing, in deeply, because they were drawn from tho faith, eto. Perhaps "by faith," etc., •• St. humblest classes o.nd had fewer friends. Paul," says Grotius, "knew the art of the This was one of the reo.sons why, as an net orators to move by praising." This method of common humanity, it was incumbent on of conciliating atteution is technically called the Gentile Christians to holp them (Acts xi. proparaitesis. The praise_ was, of course, 29; Hom. xv. 25, 26). St. Po.ul had o.lre11dy sincere thon"h, no doubt, 1t was expressed brought the subject to the notice of the with the gen;rosity of love (see 1 Co!· i. 5). Corinthians (1 Cor. xvi. 1-4). And in your love to us. The Greek 1s more Ver. 5.-Not as we hoped; rnthor, ,wt as emphatic," and by the love from you in us : " we expected, They wero so poor thnt it WI\S i.e. by tho love which streams from you, aud  1% THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [on. vm. 1-24.