2 Corinthians 8:22

22. Commendation of the third delegate, who is to accompany Titus and ‘the brother’ of 2 Corinthians 8:18. And we are sending (see on 2 Corinthians 8:17) together with them our brother whom we have proved to be in earnest many times in many things. The characteristic alliteration here and 2 Corinthians 9:8 is worth preserving in translation. Comp. διὰ γὰρ τὸ πολλάκις καὶ πολλοὺς νενικηκέναι θαρροῦσιν (Arist. Eth. Nic. III. viii. 3). The suggestion that τὸν� means the Apostle’s own brother, is extraordinary exegesis. Even if he had one to employ, to appoint him to such work would have aroused just those suspicions which S. Paul was so anxious to allay. This ‘brother’ was no doubt some one in whom the Corinthians had confidence; some conjecture Tychicus.

πολὺ σπουδαιότερον πεποιθήσει πολλῇ τῆ εἰς ὑμᾶς. Much more in earnest by reason of much confidence to you-ward. To change the second ‘much’ into ‘great’ (A.V., R.V.) spoils the repetition, which may be intentional. Neither ‘I have’ (A.V.) nor ‘he hath’ (R.V.) need be inserted, but ‘he hath’ is what is meant. “This brother had no doubt been at Corinth, and was quite certain that the Corinthians, in spite of all shortcomings, would in the end come up to St Paul’s highest anticipations” (Lias). It is possible that here and in 2 Corinthians 1:15 the Apostle purposely uses in a sense that is favourable to the Corinthians the term πεποίθησις, which in 2 Corinthians 10:2 he uses in an unfavourable sense. He wishes to remove the threatening tone of 2 Corinthians 10:2. If so, this is another item in favour of the view that 10–13 is part of the second lost letter. With the alliteration comp. 2 Corinthians 7:4; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 2 Corinthians 9:10.