8:16 But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion 1 I have for you, 8:17 because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, 2 he is coming 3 to you of his own accord. 4 8:18 And we are sending 5 along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. 6 8:19 In addition, 7 this brother 8 has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift 9 to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. 10 8:20 We did this 11 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. 12 8:22 And we are sending 13 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 14 about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers 15 of the churches, a glory to Christ. 8:24 Therefore show 16 them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you. 17
9:1 For it is not necessary 18 for me to write you about this service 19 to the saints, 9:2 because I know your eagerness to help. 20 I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, 21 that Achaia has been ready to give 22 since last year, and your zeal to participate 23 has stirred up most of them. 24 9:3 But I am sending 25 these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready 26 just as I kept telling them. 9:4 For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated 27 (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. 28 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution 29 you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift 30 and not as something you feel forced to do. 31
1 tn Or “eagerness.”
2 tn The comparative form of this adjective is used here with elative meaning.
3 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
4 tn Or “of his own free will.”
3 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
4 tn Grk “the brother of whom the praise in the gospel [is] throughout all the churches.”
4 tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.
5 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.
7 tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).
5 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.
6 sn An allusion to Prov 3:4.
7 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
8 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.”
9 tn Grk “apostles.”
9 tc The sense of this translation is attested by the fact that most of the later
10 tn Or “our boasting about you.”
10 tn Or “it is superfluous.”
11 tn Or “this ministry,” “this contribution.”
11 tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
12 tn Grk “concerning which I keep boasting to the Macedonians about you.” A new sentence was started here and the translation was simplified by removing the relative clause and repeating the antecedent “this eagerness of yours.”
13 tn The words “to give” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
14 tn The words “to participate” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
15 sn Most of them is a reference to the Macedonians (cf. v. 4).
12 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
13 tn That is, ready with the collection for the saints.
13 tn Or “be disgraced”; Grk “be put to shame.”
14 tn Grk “by this confidence”; the words “we had in you” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied as a necessary clarification for the English reader.
14 tn Grk “the blessing.”
15 tn Grk “a blessing.”
16 tn Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion.