2 Corinthians 8:8

Οὐ κατʼ ἐπιταγὴν λέγω. Not by way of command am I speaking (comp. 1 Corinthians 7:6 : the phrase is used somewhat differently Romans 16:26; 1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 1:3). In a similar spirit the Apostle makes clear to Philemon that he gives no commands; he wishes to leave Philemon quite free (8, 9, 14); and S. Peter warns presbyters against lording it over the estates, the congregations committed to them (1 Peter 5:3).

ἀλλὰ διὰ … δοκιμάζων. But as proving by means of the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. ‘I am not laying a command on you, but I am using the zeal of the Macedonians as a test of your reality’: δοκιμάζων (see on 2 Corinthians 13:5) balances κατʼ ἐπιταγήν, and λέγω belongs to both; ‘I speak, not as commanding, but as proving.’

τὸ τῆς ὑμετέρας�. Whatever is genuine in your love. Comp. τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως, ‘whatever is genuine in your faith’ (James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:7). Γνήσιος is ‘legitimate in birth, not supposititious, genuine’ (1 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4): δοκίμιος is ‘proved, not spurious, genuine.’ In an inscription of Sestos we have πρὸ πλείστου θέμενος τὸ πρὸς τὴν πατρίδα γνήσιον. Deissmann, Bible Studies, pp. 250, 259. The substantival adjective followed by a genitive is very common in S. Paul; τὸ χρηστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ μωρὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ ὑπερέχον τῆς γνώσεως. Comp. τὸ παραυτίκα ἐλαφρὸν τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν (2 Corinthians 4:17). Blass, Gr. N.T. § 47. 1. Is ingenium (Vulg.) a corruption of ingenuum?