2 Corinthians 8:16

But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) Thanks be to God, which put . . .—Better, which putteth, the verb being in the present tense, and referring to what was then passing after Titus’s return from Corinth.

The same earnest care.—There is no direct comparison, but what he means is the same care as his own. Titus had shown himself a true son of his spiritual father (Titus 1:1).

Benson Commentary

2 Corinthians 8:16-22. But thanks be to God — But while I speak of this collection which I am desirous of promoting, I would express my gratitude to God, who put the same earnest care — Which I have; into the heart of Titus for you — Namely, to promote this work among you. For he accepted the exhortation — Complied with my desire to promote and perfect this work; being forward — To undertake it; of his own accord — Yea, before he was spoken to. And we — I and Timothy; have sent with him the brother — The ancients generally supposed this was St. Luke; whose praise — For faithfully dispensing the gospel; is throughout all the churches — Macknight interprets the clause, “whose praise, on account of the gospel which he hath written, is great, throughout all the churches of Christ in these parts.” And not that only — Not only is he so much esteemed on these accounts, but he was also chosen — Ordained and appointed; of the churches — Whom we consulted on this occasion, particularly of Macedonia; to travel with us — To accompany me to Jerusalem; with this grace — This fruit of grace, this contribution; which is administered, &c. — Which I have been the instrument of procuring; to the glory of the same Lord Jesus, and the declaration of your ready mind — Your readiness to do works of charity to the saints. This is the second character of the person who was sent by the apostle with Titus to Corinth. He was chosen by the churches of Macedonia to accompany Paul to Jerusalem, to witness his delivering their gift. This character, likewise, agrees very well to Luke. For having resided long at Philippi, he was well known to the Macedonian churches, who, by making him their messenger to Judea, showed their great respect for him. Avoiding this — Taking care of this; that no man should blame us — Charge me with any undue partial dealing, or as being unfaithful; in this abundance — This large collection, the management of which is intrusted with us. Providing for honest, or honourable things, not only in the sight of the Lord — To whom it is and ought to be our first and chief care to approve ourselves; but also in the sight of men — From whose minds I wish to remove every suspicion which might hinder my usefulness. And we have sent with them — That is, with Titus and Luke; our brother — Probably Apollos; whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many other affairs, but now much more — In his endeavours to promote the collection among you; upon the great confidence, &c. — That is, I have sent him with them upon the great confidence which I have as to your goodness and liberality. Or, connecting the clause with the words immediately preceding, the sense is, that the brother spoken of was much more ready to come to Corinth, and active in his endeavours to forward the collection, upon the great confidence which he had in the good disposition of the Corinthians to the work.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:16-24 The apostle commends the brethren sent to collect their charity, that it might be known who they were, and how safely they might be trusted. It is the duty of all Christians to act prudently; to hinder, as far as we can, all unjust suspicions. It is needful, in the first place, to act uprightly in the sight of God, but things honest in the sight of men should also be attended to. A clear character, as well as a pure conscience, is requisite for usefulness. They brought glory to Christ as instruments, and had obtained honour from Christ to be counted faithful, and employed in his service. The good opinion others have of us, should be an argument with us to do well.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But thanks be to God - Paul regarded every right feeling, and every pure desire; every inclination to serve God or to benefit a fellow mortal, as the gift of God. He, therefore, ascribes the praise to him that Titus was disposed to show an interest in the welfare of the Corinthians.

The same earnest care - The earnest care here referred to was that the Corinthians might complete the collection, and finish what they had proposed. Titus was willing to undertake this, and see that it was done.

For you - For your completing the collection. Paul represents it as being done for them, or for their welfare. The poor saints in Judea indeed were to have the immediate benefit of the contribution, but it was a privilege for them to give, and Paul rejoiced that they had that privilege. A man who presents to Christians a feasible object of benevolence, and who furnishes them an opportunity of doing good to others, is doing good to them, and they should esteem it an act of kindness done to them.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16, 17. Returning to the subject of 2Co 8:6.

for you—Translate, "Which put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus," as was in myself. My care for you led me to "desire" him (2Co 8:6, 17, "exhortation," the same Greek); but Titus had of himself the same care, whence he "accepted (gladly) my exhortation" (2Co 8:17) to go to you (2Co 8:6).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Ver. 16,17. The apostle, by his exhortation, put Titus upon this employment of making at Corinth an extraordinary collection for the poor Christians that were in Judea; but it should seem, that when he did it, Titus let him know, that he was before resolved upon it: so as, though he went at the entreaty of the apostle, yet he went also of his own accord, having resolved upon the work before the apostle spoke to him of it. To let us know, that we are not sufficient of ourselves so much as to think one good thought, he gives

thanks to God for putting this

earnest care into the heart of Titus.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But thanks be to God,.... The apostle proceeds to give an account of the persons and their characters, who were employed in making this collection at Corinth for the poor saints, and begins with Titus; and the rather because he had been already concerned in setting afoot that good work among them; and gives thanks to God,

which, says he,

put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you, by "earnest care" is meant that very great carefulness, solicitude, and diligence, Titus had shown in stirring them up to a liberal contribution; and which was the same that he had expressed in the arguments just now used by him, to engage them in the same service; and this care, as it was a very earnest and hearty one, so he suggests that it was more for them, than for the sake of the poor; the performance of acts of beneficence and liberality tending more to the advantage and account of the giver than of the receiver: and he further intimates, that these good motions in the heart of Titus were not merely natural, or the effects of human power and free will, but were of God, as every good thing is; they were wrought in him by the Spirit of God, and sprung from the grace of God, and therefore the apostle returns thanks to God for the same; and the mention of this could not fail of carrying weight with it, and of having some influence on the minds of the Corinthians.

Geneva Study Bible

{8} But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

(8) He commends Titus and his two companions for many reasons, both that their credit might not be suspected, as though he had sent them slyly to rob the churches, and also so that they might be all the more ready to contribute.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

2 Corinthians 8:16. Δέ] continuativ.

χάρις τῷ θεῷ, τῷ διδόντι κ.τ.λ.] language of the deeply religious consciousness (1 Corinthians 15:10; Romans 6:17; Php 2:13). Comp. 2 Corinthians 8:1. The present participle; for the continuing zeal is continually given by Go.

τὴν αὐτὴν σπουδ.] namely, as in me. This reference is made necessary by ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, by which Billroth’s explanation: “the same zeal, which you have for the good cause,” is exclude.

ἐν τῇ καρδ.] See on ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησ., 2 Corinthians 8:1.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24. Regarding Titus, already mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8:6, and the two others, who were sent with Titus as delegates to Corinth about the collection.

Expositor's Greek Testament

2 Corinthians 8:16-24. HE COMMENDS TO THEM TITUS AND TWO UNNAMED COMPANIONS, WHO, BEARING THIS LETTER WITH THEM, ARE SENT TO GATHER THE COLLECTION AT CORINTH.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. But thanks be to God] The word translated thanks here is that translated grace, gift, in other places of this Epistle. We learn from 2 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 8:17, that Titus, moved by the strong interest in the Corinthians which his first mission had excited, and being requested by the Apostle to undertake the work of stimulating their energy in the charitable work they had undertaken (2 Corinthians 8:10), determined of his own accord to visit Corinth, instead of writing (this seems the only way in which we can reconcile 2 Corinthians 8:6 with 2 Corinthians 8:17), and thus to stir up the Corinthians by his personal presence to a holy emulation of the good deeds of the Churches of Macedonia. Titus can hardly, as some have thought, have been entrusted with this Epistle on the occasion of which the Apostle speaks, for St Paul speaks in the past tense of this mission. See notes on 2 Corinthians 8:18 and ch. 2 Corinthians 12:18.

which put] “Opera bona Dei dona.” Estius. The received Greek text here has ‘putteth,’ but a large number of MSS. read as in the text.

the same earnest care] i.e. the same as I have myself. For earnest care (bisynesse, Wiclif, good mynde, Tyndale and Cranmer) see notes on ch. 2 Corinthians 7:11-12, 2 Corinthians 8:7, where the same Greek word is used.

Bengel's Gnomen

2 Corinthians 8:16. Χάρις, thanks) There was earnest care in me [myself]: from which proceeded [to which was owing] the exhortation to Titus; but there was in Titus himself the same earnest care, divinely inspired; for which I return thanks to God. See how widely this duty of thanksgiving extends. Often in some particular case, one person has greater care than others, as was the case with Titus. This circumstance ought not to be blamed, but to be acknowledged as the gift of God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - Which put; rather, which giveth. The zeal is continuous. The same earnest care. The same in the heart of Titus as in my own. 2 Corinthians 8:16