2 Corinthians 8:10

καὶ γνώμην κ. τ. λ.: and herein I give my opinion, for this (i.e., that he should offer them an opinion rather than give a command in this matter, cf. 2 Corinthians 9:2) is better, i.e., is morally profitable, for you, inasmuch as you (see Romans 1:25; Romans 1:32, etc., for οἵτινες = quippe qui) were the first to make a beginning last year, sc., they began to make the collection before the Macedonian Churches did (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:1, chap. 2 Corinthians 9:2), not only to do but also to will, sc., they were beforehand not only in act, but in intention. ἀπὸ πέρυσι is for ἐκ f1πέρυσι or πρὸ πέρυσι of classical Greek; Deissmann (Neue Bibelstudien, p. 49) notes its occurrence in a papyrus of the second cent. B.C., of which the words run: ὅτι εἰσὶν ἐν τῷ κεραμεῖ ἀπὸ πέρυσι ιβ κ. τ. λ., i.e., “that twelve drachmae are in the pot from last year ”. This parallel is important, as showing that ἀπὸ πέρυσι does not necessarily mean “a year ago”. It must be borne in mind that St. Paul is writing from Macedonia and probably in the month of November. Now the Macedonian year, like the Jewish, began with October, so that the phrase would be strictly justifiable, according to the chronological scheme adopted in the Introd. (p. 13).