2 Corinthians 8:16-24

2 Corinthians 8:16. Paul commends the three messengers who are going to Corinth on the business of the collection. One of these was Titus, and he looked on the matter in the same way as Paul. There were two others, whose names he probably wrote, though for some unknown reason they were afterwards erased. The first of these, who may possibly have been Luke, was already favourably known to all the churches through his work for Christ, and had been chosen by the churches to assist Paul in the responsible work of collecting and conveying the money an arrangement which Paul cordially approves, inasmuch as it shut off the possibility of suspicion or scandal against himself in the handling of the contributions. The second, whose name has also been omitted (early commentators guessed Apollos) had been selected by the apostle himself, partly on the ground of his firm belief in the liberality of the Corinthians. The construction of 2 Corinthians 8:23 is confused, but the meaning is plain. For Titus and for his two companions Paul asks such a reception as will both prove the Corinthians-' affection for himself and justify his pride in them for Titus, on the ground that he is Paul's companion and fellow-worker, for the other two on the ground that they are his brethren, envoys of the churches, and reflect the glory of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:7).

2 Corinthians 8:19. To shew our readiness is best taken with appointed by the churches in the sense of according to our inclination or to the increase of readiness, Paul's readiness to have someone appointed being increased by the particular appointments which were made.