2 Corinthians 12:18

2Co 12:18. Παρεκάλεσα, I exhorted) to go to you.—τὸν ἀδελφὸν, the brother) he seems to have been a Corinthian.—πνεύματι, in spirit) inwardly.—ἴχνεσι, steps) outwardly.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Co 12:18 . παρεκάλεσα Τίτον κ . τ . λ .: I exhorted Titus (see on 2Co 8:6 ), and I sent the brother with him . This was the mission from which Titus’ return is recorded above (2Co 7:6 ), We do not know the name of his companion; but it is highly probable that Titus and this ἀδελφός are the ἀδελφοί who were the bearers of the former letter to Corinth (1Co 16:12 ). μή τι ἐπλεονέκτ . κ . τ . λ .: surely Titus took no advantage of you? walked we not ( i.e. , Titus my emissary and I myself) by the same spirit and in the same steps? It is plain that Titus’ first mission had been admirably fulfilled, and that the Corinthians had recognised his single-mindedness and sincerity (see 2Co 7:13 ). To their good opinion of him St. Paul might fairly point, for Titus, after all, had only carried out his instructions.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I desired Titus--namely, to go unto you. Not the mission mentioned Co2 8:6, Co2 8:17, Co2 8:22; but a mission previous to this Epistle, probably that from which he had just returned announcing to Paul their penitence (Co2 7:6-16).

a brother--rather "OUR (literally, 'the') brother"; one well known to the Corinthians, and perhaps a Corinthian; probably one of the two mentioned in Co2 8:18, Co2 8:22.

same spirit--inwardly.

steps--outwardly.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 18. I desired Titus] I never sent any to you but Titus and another brother; 2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:18. And did Titus make a gain of you? Did he get any thing from you, either for himself or for me? You know he did not. He was actuated by the same spirit, and he walked in the same steps.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(18) I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother.—Better, the brother. The Greek has the article, and he refers definitely to the first of the two unnamed brethren alluded to in 2Co_8:18-22. The Greek idiom of what is known as the “epistolary aorist,” hinders the English reader from seeing that St. Paul is referring to what was being done at the time when the letter was written. It would accordingly be better rendered, I have besought Titus to go; I am sending the brother with him. The ungenerous suspicions of some of the Corinthians had made him almost morbidly sensitive, and he repeats practically what he had said before (2Co_8:20-21), that his motive in sending these delegates was to guard against them. Having stated this, he can appeal to their past knowledge of Titus, as a guarantee for the future. Had he “sponged” on any man, or tried what he could get out of him? Had he not identified himself with the Apostle, both in the general spirit which animated him and in the details of his daily life? It is a natural inference from this that Titus also had worked for his own maintenance and lived in his own lodging. If we may assume the identity of Titus with the Justus into whose house St. Paul went when he left the synagogue at Corinth (see Note on Act_18:7), the appeal to the knowledge which the Corinthians had of him gains a new significance.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18. I desired Titus] See ch. 2Co_8:6. This has also been thought to be the Epistolary aorist, and to have a present signification, as though the present letter had been sent by Titus, but the rest of the verse seems to point to some past occasion. See also ch. 2Co_13:2; 2Co_13:10, in the Greek.

a brother] Literally, the brother. See ch. 2Co_8:18; 2Co_8:22.

in the same spirit] i.e. the Holy Spirit. Cf. Gal_5:16.

in the same steps] Perhaps those of Christ. See 1Pe_2:21. At least the expression marks the precise accordance between the conduct of the Apostle and his messengers.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For I fear lest when I come,.... This fear arose from his fatherly affection for them, and care of them:

I shall not find you such as I would; truly penitent for former sins, thoroughly reformed in life and manners, zealous for God, Christ, and the Gospel, and hearty lovers of one another:

and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not; sharp in his reproofs and admonitions, severe in his corrections and censures, and lawfully using the authority he had from Christ, to punish incorrigible offenders:

lest there be debates; or "strifes", or contentions among them, about words to no profit, or about their ministers, as before; one being for Paul, and another for Apollos, and another for Cephas:

envyings: at each other's gifts, or "jealousies" of one another, and evil surmisings:

wraths; breaking out into words and actions, which discover hatred of mind, a malignant spirit, quite contrary to that of the Gospel:

strifes: law suits before heathen magistrates; contentions in the church who shall be greatest; or about lesser matters of religion, or things indifferent, vain, and trifling, and kept up merely for the sake of victory:

backbitings; speaking evil of one another, detracting from, hurting, or taking away each other's character and good name:

whisperings; secretly sowing discords among friends, and privately suggesting evil things of each other:

swellings; with pride and conceit of themselves, because of their riches, learning, and eloquence, and looking with disdain upon others:

tumults; at church meetings, interrupting one another, going into parties, and making rents and schisms.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

Ver. 18. In the same spirit] Who worketh with his own tools only, and is ever like himself in all the saints; through whose whole course godliness runs, as the woof doth through the web, as the spirit doth through the body.

In the same steps] With an upright foot, Gal 2:14; in Christ, Col 2:6; as Christ, 1Jn 2:6.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I desired Titus - To go and complete the collection which you had commenced; see 2Co 8:6.

And with him I sent a brother - see note on 2Co 8:18.

Did Titus make a gain of you - They knew that he did not. They had received him kindly, treated him with affection, and sent him away with every proof of confidence and respect; see 2Co 7:7. How then could they now pretend that he had defrauded them?

Walked we not in the same spirit? - Did not all his actions resemble mine? Was there not the same proof of honesty, sincerity, and love which I have ever manifested? This is a very delicate turn. Paul’s course of life when with them they admitted was free from guile and from any attempt to get money by improper means. They charged him only with attempting it by means of others. He now boldly appeals to them and asks whether Titus and he had not in fact acted in the same manner; and whether they had not alike evinced a spirit free from covetousness and deceit?

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

5. By apostolic intimations and judicial warnings of apostolic penalties, 2Co_12:19 to 2Co_13:10.

18. Titus—The most marked instance among them whom I sent. This is that sending of Titus, the return from which is stated in chap. 7.

A brother—As his attendant: the brother in the Greek: implying the one whom, of course, the Corinthians well knew.

In the same spirit—Same unselfish temper.

Steps—Were not our actions as disinterested as our spirit?

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Titus. This refers to the first visit of Titus. He was now on the eve of a second visit with two others. (2Co_8:6, 2Co_8:18, 2Co_8:22) A brother; rather, the brother. Who it was is entirely unknown. Perhaps Tychicus. (Tit_3:12) In the same Spirit; namely, in the Spirit of God.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I desired Titus - To go to you.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? [Now let us look at the facts and see where I used such guile. My detractors admit that I myself took nothing: then I must have taken it through the agency of others. If so, by whom? Titus and the brother who accompanied him were the only agents I sent. Did Titus thus cheat you in my behalf? Did he not, on the contrary, show you the same inner spirit of self-sacrifice which I displayed? Did he not outwardly follow my plans, exhorting you not to give it to him, or send it to me, but to lay it up in your own treasury weekly as I directed? See 1Co_16:1-2 . If Titus, as we have supposed, accompanied the messengers who bore Paul's first epistle to Corinth, he very naturally carried out the directions of that epistle. Who was then with him we do not know. Titus had not yet reached Corinth to undertake this work a second time as Paul directed ( 2Co_8:6 ; 2Co_8:16-17 ). Paul's actions were ever free from guile or covetousness-- 1Th_2:3-5 ]

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

18. I desired Titus. He sent Titus and another brother, but they asked no gain.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

18. παρεκάλεσα Τίτον. I exhorted Titus, and I sent with him the (see on 2Co 2:16) brother. This cannot refer to the mission of Titus alluded to in 2Co 2:13, 2Co 7:6; 2Co 7:13; nor to the one mentioned in 2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:17-18; 2Co 8:22. There may have been another mission before the painful letter (of which these four chapters seem to be a part) was written. But, whatever view we take of 10–13, the mission of Titus mentioned in 2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:17-18; 2Co 8:22 cannot be meant here; for when 8 was written, Titus had not yet started. Nor is it credible that the mission of Titus alluded to in 2Co 2:13, 2Co 7:6; 2Co 7:13 can be meant. That was the mission to quell the rebellion in Corinth, a task in which Titus succeeded. But S. Paul would never have complicated so difficult a matter as that by combining with it an attempt to raise money. Of course, if we believe that 10–13 is part of the painful letter, the mission of Titus to quell the revolt cannot be referred to here; for, when the painful letter was written, Titus had not started on that mission. Everything runs smoothly if we suppose three missions of Titus to Corinth; an early one, in which he and one brother started the collection for the Palestine fund, which seems to be alluded to in καθὼς προενήρξατο (2Co 8:6), and which is alluded to here; a second, in which he supported the Apostle’s painful letter, and won back the Corinthians to their allegiance (2Co 2:13, 2Co 7:6; 2Co 7:13); a third, in which he and two brethren were to complete the collection (2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:17-18; 2Co 8:22). Here τὸν ἀδελφόν means ‘the brother whom you remember.’ In none of the missions did Titus go alone.

μήτι ἐπλεονέκτησεν ὑμᾶς Τίτος; Did Titus take any advantage of you? This does not imply that the Corinthians had accused Titus of sharp practice: rather the contrary. The Apostle’s argument is this: ‘You admit that I took nothing from you myself; but you suspect some of my agents of taking. Can you mention one who did so? Did Titus, my chief agent, do so?’ Evidently S. Paul knows that they had not accused Titus of this. Then the rest of the argument follows. ‘Did not he and I always walk in the same spirit, the same steps? If his hands are clean, so are mine.’

This fits in with the theory of three missions of Titus. In the first he won their confidence, and therefore was sent on the very difficult second mission and the rather delicate matter of the third mission. And, if 10–13 is part of the painful letter, the passage before us was written between the first and second mission, when the good impression was fresh. It is quite possible that at his first mission to Corinth Titus was the bearer of 1 Corinthians. In 1Co 16:12 we read ‘of the brethren’ who are to carry the letter. These brethren may be Titus and ‘the brother’ mentioned here: see Lightfoot, Biblical Essays, p. 181.

For μήτι interrogative comp. 2Co 1:17. The change to οὐ interrogative is the change from num to nonne: comp. Luk 6:39.

τῷ αὐτῷ πνεύματι. The coupling with τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἴχνεσιν tends to show that this means that he and Titus were animated by the same thought and intention, rather than that they were directed by the same Holy Spirit. Comp. Php 1:27. But the R.V. has by the same Spirit. ‘Spirit’ indicates the inward principle, ‘steps’ the external conduct. There is probably no reference to the steps of Christ (1Pe 2:21). Comp. Pind. Pyth. x. 25; Nem. vi. 27.

This verse renders it improbable that Timothy ever reached Corinth; otherwise he would probably have been mentioned here. It is often supposed that he reached Corinth, and that his mission was a failure; but this is an uncertain hypothesis. He and Erastus were sent to Macedonia (Act 19:21-22) before 1 Cor. was written, and Timothy was instructed to go on to Corinth (1Co 4:17). All that we know is that, when 2 Cor. was written from Macedonia, Timothy was there with the Apostle (2Co 1:1). He may have gone to Corinth and have returned ἀδικηθείς (2Co 7:12) to Macedonia. More probably he remained in Macedonia till S. Paul’s arrival, either because the news from Corinth was so unfavourable, or because there was so much to do in Macedonia. Titus, not Timothy, brings the news about Corinth (2Co 2:13, 2Co 7:6-7). S. Luke says nothing about Timothy’s having reached Corinth, which probably means that either he knew that he never reached Corinth, or at least had never heard that he did; and S. Paul himself seems to have had doubts whether Timothy would get as far as Corinth; ἐάν δὲ ἔλθῃ Τιμόθεος (1Co 16:10). “Combining the hint of the possible abandonment of the design in the First Epistle, the account of the journey to Macedonia in the Acts, and the silence maintained with regard to any visit to Corinth or any definite information received thence through Timotheus in the Second Epistle, we discover an ‘undesigned coincidence’ of a striking kind; and it is therefore a fair and reasonable conclusion that the visit was never paid” (Lightfoot, Biblical Essays, p. 280). The fact that Timothy is coupled with Paul in 2Co 1:1 does not explain the silence here. He is coupled with Paul in writing 1 Thessalonians, yet see 1Th 3:2; 1Th 3:6.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18.] Specification, in refutation, of the ways in which this might be supposed to have taken place. The construction τινα ὧν … διʼ αὐτοῦ is an anacoluthon. He sets τινα ὧν ἀπέστ. πρ. ὑμ. forward in the place of emphasis; how intending to govern τινα, is not plain: but drops the construction, and proceeds, διʼ αὐτοῦ κ.τ.λ. See examples of the same in reff., and Winer, edn. 6, § 63. i. 2. d.

18.] παρεκάλεσα, scil. ‘to go to you:’ see reff. This journey of Titus cannot, of course, be the one spoken of ch. 8:6, 17, 22, 24; but some previous mission to them before this Epistle was written: probably that from which he returned with the report of their penitence to Paul in Macedonia, ch. 7:6 ff. We certainly have not elsewhere any hint of ὁ ἀδελφός having accompanied him on this journey: but this is no reason why it should not have been so.

τὸν ἀδελφόν—perhaps, one of the two mentioned ch. 8:18, 22: some other, well known to the Corinthians, but absolutely unknown to us: but not, a brother, as in E. V. It is plain from this and from what follows, that this brother was quite subordinate to Titus in the mission.

τῷ αὐτῷ πνεύμ.] dat. of the manner; see ref. The Spirit in which they walked was the Holy Spirit: τῷ αὐτῷ πνευματικῷ χαρίσματι· χάρισμα γὰρ καλεῖ τὸ στενούμενον μὴ λαβεῖν, Theophyl.

τοῖς αὐτ. ἴχν.] in the same footsteps, viz. each as the other: οὐδὲ μικρόν, φησί, παρεξῆλθον τὴν ἐμὴν ὁδόν, Theophyl. The dative ἴχνεσιν, as in ref.= ἐν ἴχνεσιν: see also Act 14:16; Jud 1:11. Meyer cites Pind. Pyth. v. 20,—ἐμβέβακεν ἴχνεσιν πατρός, and Nem. vi. 27, ἴχνεσιν ἐν Πραξιδάμαντος ἑὸν πόδα νέμων. Cf. also Philo de Caritate, § 2, vol. ii. p. 385, τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἴχνεσιν ἐπακολουθῆσαι.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18. παρεκάλεσα Τίτον καί συναπέτειλα τὸν ἀδελφόν. ‘I exhorted Titus, and with him I sent the brother’ (see on 2:13), i.e. some Christian whom the Corinthians knew, ‘the brother whom you remember.’ There seem to have been three missions of Titus to Corinth; (1) the one mentioned here and in 8:6 (καθὼς προενήξατο, ) in which Titus and one colleague started the Palestine collection; † (2) the one alluded to in 2:13, 7:6, 13, in which Titus carried a severe letter from the Apostle, by means of which he succeeded in winning back the rebellious Corinthians to their allegiance; and (3) the one mentioned 8:6, 17, 18, 22, in which Titus and two colleagues were to finish the Palestine collection. This last cannot be alluded to here; for, when ch. viii. was written, Titus and his two colleagues had not yet started for Corinth. And it is very unlikely that (2) can be the mission alluded to here. St Paul would not make so difficult a task as that of putting an end to a rebellion against his authority still more difficult by coupling with it a request for money. Those who identify 10-13. with part of the severe letter cannot identify (2) with the mission mentioned here, for when that letter was written Titus had not started with the letter.* All the allusions fall into place, if we assume that Titus was three times sent by the Apostle to Corinth; and on other grounds there is no objection to this hypothesis.

μήτι ἐπεκτόνησεν ὑμᾶς Τίτος; St Paul knew that the Corinthians had not suspected, and could not suspect, Titus of dishonesty. Then if Titus, the agent who worked in such perfect harmony with himself, was above suspicion, was it credible that the man for whom and with whom he laboured so loyally, was a cheat? The idea of Titus being dishonest in order to serve St Paul was ludicrous. Vulg. makes no difference between μή and μητι, having numquid for both, but it marks the much more important difference between μήτι interrogative and ὀυ interrogative by changing from numquid to nonne as it does in Luk 6:39. It is possible that τι has dropped out between μή and τινα. But elsewhere Vulg. has numquid for μή (3:1; 1Co 1:13, 1Co 1:9:4, 1Co 1:5, 1Co 1:8, 1Co 1:9, 1Co 1:10:22, etc.) as also for μήτι.

οὐ τῷ αὐτῷ πνεύματι περιπατήσαμεν; ‘Walked we not in the same spirit’ (AV) is better than ‘Walked we not by the same Spirit’ (RV), as is shown by the parallel question which follows. The two questions mean that both in mind and conduct there was absolute and manifest harmony between Titus and himself. Cf. στήκετε ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι (Php 1:27).

The fact that Timothy is not mentioned here makes it probable that he never reached Corinth. See on 1Co 16:10, where St Paul is doubtful whether Timothy will reach Corinth. He probably remained in Macedonia, where there was plenty of work for him, until St Paul came thither from Troas (1:1, 2:12, 13).

12:19-13:10. Final Warnings in View of His Approaching Visit

Think not that I am on my defence before you; it is to God that I am responsible; and it is for your good that I speak, for it is you that have to be judged by me. I pray that, through your repentance, I may have no need to punish, and you may go on to perfection.

19 Am I right in surmising that all this time you are thinking that it is to you that I am making my defence? It is before God and in union with Christ that I am speaking as I do;—but every word of it, my beloved friends, with a view to your being built up in holiness. 20 And there is much need of building up, for I am afraid that perhaps in some ways the effect of my visit may be mutual disappointment,—that I should find you to be not such as I would, and that I should be found by you to be such as ye would not. I mean that I fear lest there may be among you strife and jealously, wraths and factions, backbitings and whisperings, swellings and tumults; 21 lest, when I come back to you, my God should again, as He did before, humiliate me by showing what faulty Christians you are, and I should have to mourn over many of you who have clung to their old sins, and never repented of the impurity and fornication and lasciviousness which they practised.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.