And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us,

We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.

What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.

But as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you – make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.

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.