2 Corinthians 8:20-24

Context
8:20 We did this¹ 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.² 8:22 And we are sending³ 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 question⁴ about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers⁵ of the churches, a glory to Christ. 8:24 Therefore show⁶ them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.⁷

[8:20] ¹tn “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.

[8:21] ²sn An allusion to Prov 3:4.

[8:22] ³tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.

[8:23] ⁴tn 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.”

[8:23] ⁵tn Grk “apostles.”

[8:24] ⁶tc 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.

[8:24] ⁷tn Or “our boasting about you.”