Text -- 2 Corinthians 8:12-24 (NET)

8:12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. 8:13 For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. 8:14 At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, 8:15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

The Mission of Titus

8:16 But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you, 8:17 because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord. 8:18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. 8:19 In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. 8:20 We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering. 8:21 For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men. 8:22 And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you. 8:23 If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. 8:24 Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 2Co 8:12

¹ tn The words “the gift itself” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Translators often supply an English phrase like “it is” (NASB) but in the context, Paul is clearly referring to the collection Titus was to oversee (2 Cor 8:4-7). Therefore there is no reason not to specify the referent (the gift) more narrowly for clarity.

NET Notes: 2Co 8:14

¹ tn Or “their lack.”

NET Notes: 2Co 8:15

¹ tn The word “gathered” is not in the Greek text, but is implied (so also for the second occurrence of the word later in the verse).

² sn A quotation from Exod 16:18.

NET Notes: 2Co 8:16

¹ tn Or “eagerness.”

NET Notes: 2Co 8:17

¹ tn The comparative form of this adjective is used here with elative meaning.

² tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.

³ tn Or “of his own free will.”

NET Notes: 2Co 8:18

¹ tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.

² tn Grk “the brother of whom the praise in the gospel [is] throughout all the churches.”

NET Notes: 2Co 8:19

¹ tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.

² tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.

⁴ tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).

NET Notes: 2Co 8:20

¹ tn “This” refers to sending the brother mentioned in 2 Cor 8:18 to Corinth along with Titus. The words “We did this” have no equivalent in the Greek text, but are necessary to maintain the thought flow in English. The Greek participle that begins v. 20 continues the sentence begun in v. 18 which concerns the sending of the other brother mentioned there.

NET Notes: 2Co 8:21

¹ sn An allusion to Prov 3:4.

NET Notes: 2Co 8:22

¹ tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.

NET Notes: 2Co 8:23

¹ tn Grk “If concerning Titus” (εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, eite Juper Titou); the Greek sentence opens with an ellipsis which must be supplied: If [there is any question] about Titus.”

² tn Grk “apostles.”

NET Notes: 2Co 8:24

¹ tc The sense of this translation is attested by the fact that most of the later mss, along with several early and important ones (א C D² Ψ 0225 0243 1739 1881 Ï lat), have the imperative verb ἐνδείξασθε (ejndeixasqe) in place of the participle ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi), which is found in B D* F G 33 pc. Since an imperatival participle is more Hebraic in style, many scribes would not have understood the idiom as easily and would have been likely to change the participle to an imperative (so TCGNT 513-14). But there is no good reason why scribes would change the imperative into a participle. Thus, ἐνδεικνύμενοι is almost surely the wording of the original text.

tn In the Greek text ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi) is a present participle which is translated as an imperative verb (see BDF §468; ExSyn 650-52).

² tn Or “our boasting about you.”