2 Corinthians 8:2

ὅτι ἐν πολλῇ δοκιμῇ κ. τ. λ.: how that in much proof of affliction, i.e., in spite of the severe afflictions by which they were tried, probably a reference to persecution and annoyance from their heathen neighbours (see Acts 16:20; Philippians 1:28 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:3-9), the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty (κατὰ βάθους = “reaching deep down”; cf. the phrase in Strabo, ix., 419, ἄντρον κοῖλον κατὰ βάθους) abounded unto the riches of their liberality. ἁπλοῦς means primarily “simple,” “single-minded” (Matthew 6:22), and ἁπλότης is thus used by St. Paul in chap. 2 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; but single-mindedness or “heartiness” of giving (see 1 Chronicles 29:17) involves “liberality” in giving (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:7), and thus in many passages (see reff. and cf. James 1:5) liberality is the best rendering. The whole of Greece, except the Roman colonies of Patrae and Corinth, was in a dire condition of poverty and distress at this period (see Arnold's Roman Commonwealth, ii., 382, quoted by Stanley); and the contribution of the Macedonian Christians was really comparable to the giving of the widow's mite (Mark 12:44). It is noteworthy that no warnings against the temptations of wealth occur in 1 and 2 Thess. or Phil. See, however, Lightfoot, Bibl. Essays, p. 247.