2 Corinthians 8:17

2Co 8:17. Παράκλησιν, the exhortation) that which is given at 2Co 8:6, namely, that he should go to you.—σπουδαιότερος, more forward) more active than to require exhortation, 2Co 8:22.

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

2Co_8:17. Proof of this σπουδή of Titus.

For the summons indeed he received; but, seeing that he was more zealous, of his own accord he set out to you. Paul has not expressed himself incorrectly, seeing that he can only have had in his mind a climax (Rückert); nor has he used μὲν … δέ in the sense of the climactic οὐ μόνον … ἀλλά (Billroth, also Flatt); but the concessive clause τὴν μὲν παράκλ. ἐδέξ. expresses the delicate modesty and subordination of Titus, according to which he would not have it appear that he set out on the journey αὐθαίρετος; the second clause, on the other hand, sets forth the actual state of the case. The summons (2Co_8:6) indeed he received; he did not say as it were: there is no need of thy summons, I go of my own impulse; but in the actual state of the case he was too zealous to have needed a summons, and set out to you of his own self-determination.

ἐξῆλθε] The praeterite does not denote what was resolved on (Billroth), but is that of the epistolary style (comp. συνεπέμψ., 2Co_8:18; 2Co_8:22; Xen. Anab. i. 9. 25), used to represent the point of time at which the letter is read by those receiving it. Comp. Act_15:27; Act_23:30, also on Gal_6:11.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Co 8:17 . ὅτι τὴν μὲν παράκλ . κ . τ . λ .: for not only did he accept (the epistolary aorist) our exhortation, sc. , of 2Co 8:6 , but (and this is the proof of his σπουδή ) being himself very earnest (we are not to press the comparative σπουδαιότερος ; cf. Act 17:22 ), it was of his own accord that he went forth (epist. aor.) unto you, sc. , from Macedonia, bearing this letter. ὑπάρχων is used (as at Rom 4:19 , 1Co 11:7 , chap. 2Co 12:16 , Gal 1:14 , Phi 2:6 ) instead of ὤν , as expressing not merely the fact that Titus was σπουδαιότερος , but that this was his habitual condition; “being, as he is,” would convey the sense.

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

being more forward--more earnest than to need such exhortation.

he went--Greek, "went forth." We should say, he is going forth; but the ancients put the past tense in letter writing, as the things will have been past by the time that the correspondent, receives the letter. "Of his own accord," that is, it is true he has been exhorted by me to go, but he shows that he has anticipated my desires, and already, "of his own accord," has desired to go.

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 17. He accepted the exhortation] I advised him to visit you and excite you to this good work, and I found that he was already disposed in his heart to do it; God put this earnest care in the heart of Titus for you, 2Co 8:16.

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

His receiving the exhortation means that he had undertaken this business, from being exhorted to it by Paul. He afterwards corrects this by saying, that Titus had not been so much influenced by the advice of others, as he had felt stirred up of his own accord, in accordance with his active disposition.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(17) For indeed he accepted the exhortation . . .—The words have a two-fold purpose:—(1) To show that Titus was authorised by the Apostle, and acting at his request; (2) that he was so eager to go that he did not even need to be requested. The tense, “he went,” is what is known as the epistolary aorist. Titus was to start, probably, as the bearer of this letter.

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

17. For indeed he accepted the exhortation] The Greek implies that Titus did indeed receive an exhortation from St Paul, but that he did more than he had been asked to do. For exhortation compare entreaty, 2Co_8:4, and see note on ch. 2Co_1:3.

but being more forward] Literally, ‘more diligent,’ i.e. than I had desired him to be. See note on earnest care above.

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.

And we have sent with him the brother,.... The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "our brother"; and one of Stephens's copies, "your brother": who this brother was, is not certain; some think it was Luke the evangelist, the companion of the apostle in his travels:

whose praise is in the Gospel, throughout all the churches; being known and highly commended by all the churches, for the Gospel he wrote; but it is not certain that Luke as yet had wrote his Gospel; and much less that it was so much known at present among the churches; and besides, this brother's praise seems to be on account of his preaching the Gospel, and not writing one: others think Barnabas is intended, who was chosen and sent out by the churches along with the apostle; but these in a short time separated from each other, nor do we read of their coming together again: others are of opinion, that Apollos is designed, who was a very eloquent preacher, and of whom the apostle had given the Corinthians an intimation in his former epistle, that he would come to them at a convenient time; but to him is objected, that he never was chosen of the churches, to travel with the apostle on such an account as here mentioned: others would have it that Silas or Silvanus is meant, who was a very constant companion of the apostle, and of whom he makes mention in most of his epistles; and others have made no doubt of it, but John Mark is here meant, who not only wrote a Gospel, but was an excellent preacher of it, and was chosen by the churches to go along with Paul and Barnabas; and though there was some distaste taken to him by Paul, he was afterwards reconciled to him, and for his profitableness in the ministry was greatly desired by him; but after all, it is difficult to determine who it was, nor is it of any great moment: a "brother" he was; being not only a regenerate person, but a preacher of the Gospel; a brother in the ministry, and "one whose praise was in the Gospel"; greatly admired, and much commended, for his excellent talent in preaching the Gospel; and for this he was famous "throughout all the churches"; a very great commendation indeed; but this is not all, it follows,

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

17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

Ver. 17. But being more forward] A good heart is ready to every good work, waiting the occasions thereof, Tit 3:1; as the bee, as soon as ever the sun breaks forth, flies abroad to gather honey and wax.

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.

For indeed he accepted the exhortation - He cheerfully complied with the exhortation which I gave him, to wit, to visit you, and excite you to this good work.

But being more forward - More disposed to do this than I had supposed. The idea here is, that he was very ready to engage in this; he was more ready to engage in it than Paul was to exhort him to it; he anticipated his request; he had already resolved to engage in it.

Of his own accord he went ... - He went voluntarily and without urging. The ground of Paul’s thankfulness here seems to have been this, He apprehended probably some difficulty in obtaining the collection there, He was acquainted with the distracted state of the church, and feared that Titus might have some reluctance to engage in the service. He was therefore very agreeably surprised when he learned that Titus was willing to make another journey to Corinth and to endeavor to complete the collection.

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

17. Accepted the exhortation—That is, the above invitation, 2Co_8:6. The past tense of the verbs of this entire paragraph (2Co_8:16-24) represent the present time, as Paul really speaks as from the time-point of their reading his letter.

Went unto you—Has come to you with this epistle, in view of the collections, both from my invitation and his more forward readiness.

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

The exhortation. My request that he would undertake this task. Being more forward. Because he was more earnestly zealous than I had ever ventured to hope, he went spontaneously. (On the word authairetos, see ver. 3.)

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

Being more forward - Than to need it, though he received it well.

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

For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord . [The apostle thanks God that he had given to Titus the same desire to benefit the Corinthians which animated Paul himself, so that Titus not only accepted the apostle's exhortation to go back to Corinth and induce them to take up the collection, but was even ready of his own accord to undertake the work.]

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.

17. For indeed he accepted the exhortation. Readily accepted the work when Paul suggested it; nay more, of his own accord, he desired and chose it.

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.

17. ὅτι. The proof of his earnestness: For indeed he accepts our exhortation, but being all along very much In earnest, of his own accord (2Co 8:3) he is going forth to you. The verbs are epistolary aorists, from the point of view of the recipients of the letter: see on 2Co 2:3 and comp. 2Co 9:3; Col 4:8; Eph 6:22.

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.

17.] Proof of this; that Titus received indeed (μέν) Paul’s exhortation to go to them (said, to shew his subordination,—or perhaps to authenticate his authorization by the Apostle), but in reality (δέ) was too ready to go, to need any exhortation;—and therefore went forth (the past tense of the epistolary style,—as ‘dabam,’ &c., indicating things which will have passed before the letter is received) of his own accord to them.

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

17. ὅτι τὴν μὲν παράκλησιν ἐδέξατο. ‘For, to begin with, he welcomes our appeal.’ This and the next two verbs are epistolary aorists, which must be rendered as presents in English. Cf. 2:3, 9:3.

σπουδαιότερος δὲ ν̔πάρχων κ.τ.λ. ‘Secondly, in his characteristic earnestness, of his own accord he is going forth to you.’

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