2 Corinthians 8:19

And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: NOT THAT ONLY - not only praised in all the churches. CHOSEN - by vote [ cheirotoneetheis (G5500)]. OF THE CHURCHES. Therefore these companions of Paul are called "messengers of the churches" (2 Corinthians 8:23). TO TRAVEL - to Jerusalem. WITH (B C, Vulgate 'in' - i:e., in the case of; 'Aleph (') Delta G, "with") THIS GRACE - `gift.' TO THE GLORY OF THE SAME LORD. So 'Aleph ('). But B C Delta G f g, Vulgate, omit "sam...

19._Which is administered by us. _By commending his ministry, he still farther encourages the Corinthians. He says, that it tends to promote the glory of God, and their kindness of disposition. Hence it comes, that these two things are conjoined — the glory of God and their liberality, and that the _latter _cannot be given up without the _former _being proportionally diminished. There is, in addition to this, the labor of those distinguished men, which it were very inconsistent to reject, or allow to pass unimproved....

16-24 The apostle commends the brethren sent to collect their charity, that it might be known who they were, and how safely they might be trusted. It is the duty of all Christians to act prudently; to hinder, as far as we can, all unjust suspicions. It is needful, in the first place, to act uprightly in the sight of God, but things honest in the sight of men should also be attended to. A clear character, as well as a pure conscience, is requisite for usefulness. They brought glory to Christ as instruments, and had obtained honour from Christ to be counted faithful, and employed in his service. The good opinion others have of us, should be an argument with us to do well....

Verse 19. _CHOSEN OF THE CHURCHES TO TRAVEL WITH US_] χειροτονηθεις. Appointed by a _show of hands_; from χειρ the _hand_, and τεινω, to _extend_. This appointment, by the suffrage of the Churches, seems to refer more to St. _Luke_ than any one else; unless we suppose he refers to the transaction, Acts 15:40; Acts 15:41, and then it would appear that _Silas_ is the person intended. _WITH THIS GRACE_] Liberal contribution. See on 2 Corinthians 8:1. _YOUR READY MIND._] Your willingness to relieve them. But, instead of υμων, _your_, ημων, _our_, is the reading of almost all the best MSS. and all the _versions_. This

AND NOT THAT ONLY - Not only is he esteemed on account of other services which he has rendered by his preaching and writings; but he has had a new mark of the confidence of the churches in being appointed to convey the collection to Jerusalem. CHOSEN OF THE CHURCHES - Chosen by the churches. Many concurred in the choice, showing that they had entire confidence in him. Paul had been unwilling to have charge of this contribution alone (1 Corinthians 16:3; compare 2 Corinthians 8:20), and he had procured the appointment of some one to undertake it. Probably he expected that the church at Corinth would concur in this appointment. WITH THIS GRACE - Margin, “Gift;” see...

EXPOSITION Liberality shown by the Macedonian Churches (2 Corinthians 8:1). He is sending Titus to receive their contribution for the Church of Jerusalem, and he invites them to give according to their power (verses 6-15). Recommendation of Titus and the other delegates (verses 16-24). These two chapters (8 and 9) form an independent section of the Epistle. The _plural _alone ("we") is used throughout; participial and unfinished constructions abound; the style is a little embarrassed; and various words, such as "grace," "blessing," "righteousness," "simplicity," occur in somewhat unusual shades of meaning. All this arises: 1. From St. Paul's natural delicacy in alluding to pecuniary subjects. 2. From a desire to conciliate the Corinthians, while at the same time he cannot conceal from them a little apprehen

AND NOT THAT ONLY, BUT WHO WAS ALSO CHOSEN OF THE CHURCHES,.... Not only famous for preaching the Gospel, but he was also appointed by the joint suffrages of the churches, which were made by the lifting up or stretching out of the hand, as the word here used signifies; this brother was not chosen to this service by a few private persons, or by a single church only, but by several churches; which does not refer to the churches at Jerusalem and Antioch, as if the apostles were appointed, and others were appointed by these churches to travel with them, in order to collect money for the poor saints at Jerusalem; of which no mention is any where made, only of their being sent out by them to preach the Gospel. James, Cephas, and John indeed, when they gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that they might go to the Heathen, desired them to "remember the poor"; Galatians 2:9 bu...

Although this is rather a practical than a spiritual chapter, I hope that we shall get profit out of it by the teaching of the Spirit of God who inspired Paul to write it. Paul was writing to the church at Corinth to commend the churches of Macedonia, that he might stir up the one church by the example of the others. The saints at Jerusalem were starving because of a famine, and it came into the mind of certain Gentile churches to send help to the mother-church at Jerusalem. It was regarded as a very wonderful thing that Gentiles should be sending help to Jews. I hope it would not be thought wonderful now, but it was then; and Paul, who loved the saints at Corinth, and saw that they were a little backward in this matter stirred them up to greater diligence. He did not like the churches in Macedonia to go so far ahead of the church in Corinth which was richer, and more endowed with gifts,...

2 CORINTHIANS 8:19 @auvtou/# {C} The weight of the witnesses that support the presence of auvtou/ is somewhat less than the weight of those that omit the word. On the other hand, its omission produces the easier reading, which is therefore suspect as secondary. The picture is clouded still further by the fact that several witnesses read auvth,n — yet this may perhaps be taken as indirect support for the earlier presence of auvtou/. On balance, the Committee considered that the least unsatisfactory decision was to retain auvtou/ but to enclose it within square brackets....

II. THE MINISTRY OF GIVING. CHAPTER S 8-9 1. The Examples and Principles of Giving. CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The Grace of God Manifested in the Churches of Macedonia. (2 Corinthians 8:1)_ 2. The Great Example. (2 Corinthians 8:8) 3. The Advice, Principles and Administration. (2 Corinthians 8:9 .) There is to be a practical ministry in giving, especially in remembering the poor of the flock. He is anxious now to lay this responsibility upon their hearts. In the first epistle he had written them that his glory was in giving the gospel gratuitously. He would not take anything from the Corinthians for himself, but he wants their gifts for others. He was making up a co