2 Corinthians 8:7

7. Perhaps ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν (B 30, 31, Arm.) rather than ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν (אCDFGKLP, Latt. Aeth.).

7. ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ἐν παντὶ περισσεύετε. Nay, as ye abound in everything. There is no parenthesis. The ἀλλά indicates that there is something further to be said. ‘All this is true, but, what is more, as ye abound in everything.’ Comp. 2 Corinthians 7:11, and see notes.

σπουδῇ. Earnestness. Comp. 1 Corinthians 1:5, where much the same gifts are mentioned, and Ephesians 1:8; Ephesians 5:9. See Ellicott on Ephesians 1:8.

τῇ ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν. The reading is doubtful: see critical note. Our choice lies between ‘the love which was inspired by us and finds a home in you,’ and ‘the love which proceeds from you and finds a home in us.’ ‘The love which unites your hearts with ours’ is meant. For the ἐκ comp. 2 Corinthians 7:9.

ἴνα καὶ ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ χάριτι περισσεύητε. The construction of ἴνα is ambiguous. It may be coordinate with ἴνα in 2 Corinthians 8:6. The Apostle exhorted Titus for two ends; (1) that as Titus had begun, so he should complete; (2) that as you abound in everything, so you may abound in Christian charity. Or we may suppose the ellipse of some such verb as βλέπετε, or θέλω, or παρακαλῶ. Comp. Ephesians 5:33. Winer, p. 396. There is emphasis on ταύτῃ: ‘in this grace also.’ Comp. 2 Peter 1:5-7. Were the Corinthians stingy? Comp. 2 Corinthians 11:8-9; 2 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Corinthians 9:11-12.