Honesty Seen In Action
HONESTY SEEN IN ACTION
2 CORINTHIANS 8:16-24
The people to whom Paul give tasks are reliable and trustworthy.
As compensation for a life of tireless journeys (2 Corinthians 11:26) and little opportunity to settle down in a particular place for any length of time (1 Corinthians 4:11), God gave Paul a great army of Christian coworkers and Christian friends who, like the Philippians, became his partners in the work of the gospel (Philippians 1:5,7).
This section mentions one familiar name, Titus (8:16), but it also makes allusion to two other people whose names are concealed from us (8:18,22). This is perhaps a good reminder that we know less about the personnel of the New Testament than we think we do. After all, there were Christians before Paul’s arrival on the scene—a fact to which he pays grateful tribute (Romans 16:7)—and no doubt fine Christians contemporary with him.
The two colleagues are both attractively described and warmly commended (8:18-19 and 8:22-23). They are mentioned for the reason that they, along with Titus, are to be sent to Corinth as the churches’ delegates for the administration of the relief fund. Paul has a particular purpose in view in selecting these three. What is it (8:20-21)? And it is important that these brothers should be of sterling character and integrity (8:22). Indeed, what higher accreditation could they have than in 8:23?
Notes 8:18: many guesses have been made: Luke’s name as a suggested identity goes back to Origen and Jerome. A likely choice is Aristarchus who is called a Macedonian and a companion of Paul (8:19) in Acts 19:29; see also Acts 20:4; 27:2. But perhaps we should seek a more prominent figure. Then Apollos would be an admirable candidate in view of 8:18 (see Acts 18:26-28). 8:22: the second “brother” is even more obscurely referred to, and no guess as to his identity is profitable.
Thought Let us thank God for countless unnamed Christians, particularly ministers of the word who labor in obscurity.