Commentary
About the Collection
(2 Corinthians 8)
Textual Issues
Vs. 3—παρὰ δύναμιν not ὑπὲρ δύναμιν (T.R., B.M.T.).
Vs. 4—T.R. has δέξασθαι ἡμᾶς after ἁγίους which should be struck out.
Vs. 12—Omit τις (T.R.) after ἔχῃ.
Vs. 19—ἐν τῇ χάριτι is the right reading not σὺν.
Vs. 21—προνοοῦμεν γὰρ not προνοούμενοι (T.R., B.M.T.)
Vs. 24—ἐνδεικνύμενοι not ἐνδείξασθε.
Commentary
Vs. 1—τὴν χάριν—Showing the range of meaning. Cf. εὐλογίαν 2 Cor 9:5, and κοινωνία.
ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις—See Paley Hora. Paul. p. 121.
δεδομένην ἐν cf. 2 Cor 8:16 and 2 Cor 1:22; Acts 4:12.
Vs. 2—At a time when they were surely burdend by afflictions.
ἡ περισσεία—is certainly further amplified by ἐπερίσσευσεν.
τὸ πλοῦτος—the right reading, cf. Winer.
ἁπλότητος—liberality, cf. Rom 12:8.
Vs. 4—δέξασθαι ἡμᾶς of the T.R. is to be omitted. Meyer has taken χάριν after δεόμενοι but it is better taken with ἔδωκαν.
Vs. 5—πρῶτον, not as E.V. but refers to καὶ οὐ . . . and in the second place . . .
Vs. 6—εἰς τὸ παρακαλέσαι ἡμᾶς—so that we.
Vs. 8—By way of command, as if I would command you. cf. 1 Cor 7:6.
τῆς ἑτέρων—the Macedonian Churches.
Vs. 10—γνώμην—advice, judgment. τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῖν συμφέρει
This is due to our friendship that I would advise rather than command.
καὶ τὸ θέλειν προενήρξασθε ἀπὸ πέρυσι, not only the execution, but the design, intention.
προενήρξασθε—before whom? It is generally said ‘before the Macedonians’ but perhaps Wordsworth is right that it is ‘before we suggested it to you.’
Vs. 12—πρόκειται is there to begin with. Omit τις (cf. 2 Cor 3:16).
Vs. 13—ἐξ ἰσότητος according to a principle of equality. To equalize things.
Vs. 15—Exodus 16:18—Here used as an illustration, not an authority.
πλεονεξία—where the one yields as little and the other gets as much as he needs.
Vs. 17—σπουδαιότερος, ὑπάρχων. I do not say he received no exhortation, but that it was not needed.
Vs. 19—ἐν τῇ χάριτι in the mention of the bounty.
Vs. 20—στελλόμενοι cf. 2 Thess 3:6 (my notes p. 41).
Vs. 22—Who are the two brethren? See Stanley.