St. Lulte is meant, Others have conjectured foolish ond reprehensible indifference to Barnabas, Silas (who are out of the questiou), public opinion (1 Pet. ii. 12). Yet with e.11 Era.slue, Mark, a brother of 'fitus, etc. St. his noble carefulness, St. Paul did not Luke is not unlikely to have been selected escape this very sla.ncler (eh. xii. 18). In BS o. delegate by the Church of Philippi; lhis abundanoe, The word, which occurs but further than this wo can sn,y nothing. here only, means literally "succule1,ce," but St. Luke w11s not 11, Macedonian by birth, in the LXX. thE> adjective means "rich" and any Mo.oedonian (e.g. Aristarchus, (1 Kings i. 9). It herP. implieo that the Bopater, Secundus, Ep11phroditus) seems sum which bad been collectecl by St. Paul's to be excluded by eh. ix. 4. Po.ley notes it exertion was a. large one. ns curious that the object of St. Paul's Ver. 21. - Honest things. The word journey to Jerusalem, which is so prominent "honest" means" hono=ble" (Rom. xii. 17 • in this group of Epistles, is only mentioned Prov. iii. 4, LXX.). Not only in the sight indirectly and incidentally by St. Luke of the Lord. Such precautions would be (Acts xxiv. 17) in the Acts of the Apostles. unnecessary if others were not concerned, Ver. 19.-Chosen. The word (literally, for God knows our honesty (eh. v. 11). But chosen by show of hands) implies a popular also before men. Although the text "avoid vote (comp. 1 Cor. xvi. 3, 4). This brother all appearance of evil " should be rendered was not only widely known and valued, but "a.void every species of evil," the mistrans- also specially selected for this task. To lation conveys a. wise lesson. "In a field of travel with '118, "As our fellow-traveller." melons," says the Chinese proverb, "do not The word occurs in Acts xix. 29. With this stoop to tie your shoe;" for that will look as grace. The better reading is " in : " " in this if you wanted to steal one of the melons. matter of kindness." To the glory of the Ver. 22.-0ur brother. It is impossible same Lord. The word "same" should be to conjecture with any certainty who was the omitted. And declaration of your ready brother thns warmly eulogized.. Clement, mind. The best reading is "our," and the Epametus, Apollos, Luke, Zenas, Sosthenes, clause should be rendered, to further the Trophimus, and Tychicus have all been glory of the Lord and our readiness. suggested. Stanley conjectures that the two Ver. 20.-Avoidmg this. The object in who accompanied Titus were the Ephesians sending Titus and the brother was to cut Tychicus and Trophi.mus (Acts x.x. 4; xxi. away the possibility of blame and suspicion. 9; 2 Tim. iv. 12; Eph. vi 21; Titus iii. 12; The word "avoiding" (stellomenoi) literally Col. iv. 7). means " furling sail," and then " taking Ver. 23.-Whether any do inquire of precautions." It may, however, mean "mak- Titus; literally, whether about Titus, or, as ing this arrangement" (see 2 These. iii. 6). to Titw; i.e. "ifl speak about Titus." (For Too much stress has been laid on St. Paul's the phrase, comp. eh. i. 6, 8 ; 2 Thess. ii. l.) "use of nautical terms" (Acts xx. 20; Gal. Titus, long afterwa.rd8, was delegated on o. ii. 12, etc.). They belong, in fact, to the very similar mission to Crete (TituB i. 1-5; ii. phraseology of the Greek language. That 15). My partner and fellow-helper conoem- no man should blame us (see eh. vi. 3). St. ing you; rather, my associate (Philem. 17) Paul here sets 11, valuable and necessary and, as regards you, my fell=-u:orker. Mes- example to all Christians who are entrusted sengers; literally, apostles. The word is used with the management of charitable funds. in its original and untechnica.l sense of It is their duty to take every step which delego.tes (Phil. ii. !5 ; Rom. xvi. 7). The m11y place them above the possibility of glory of Christ. Men whose work and of suspicion. Their management of the worth redound to Christ's honour (Gal. i. 2-1), sums entrusted to them should be obviously Ver. 24.-0f your love. Not only of your and transparently business-like ond honour- love " to me," but of your brotherly love in able. St. Paul taught this behaviour both general. And of our boasting. Show to by example e.nd by precept (Rom. xii. 17 ; the Church that my boasting of you wais Phil. iv. 8). There is such a thing BB a justifiable.
HOMILETICS. Vcrs. 1-9.-Genuine beneficence (1). "Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God," etc. The subject of these words is genuine beneficence, and they suggest certain general truths concerning it-. I. 'l'HAT ALL GENUINE BENEFICENCE IN MAN IS FBOll Go». "Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of [we make known to you] the grace of God." All that is loving an<l ~enerous in all mural beings is from one Source, and that is God. He is the primal Font whence all flows. Wherever you see love, in young or old, rich ur pour, culture<l 198 'l'HE SEOOND EPISTLE TO 'l'RE CORINTHIANS. [ou. vm. 1-24.