2 Corinthians 8:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.

NIV: And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.

NASB: We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches;

CSB: We have sent with him the brother who is praised among all the churches for his gospel ministry.

NLT: We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News.

KJV: And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

NKJV: And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,

Three men are headed to Corinth to collect contributions for suffering Christians in Jerusalem. These men are being sent with this very letter, written by Paul. Titus, who has recently returned from Corinth, will be coming of his own free will.

Paul describes the second member of the delegation as a man famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. It is not clear why Paul doesn't name the man, as he usually does when referring to other ministers of the gospel in his letters. His mention of "all the churches" may mean the churches in the Macedonian or another region, since the following verse says the man has been appointed by the churches to travel with the delegation to collect and distribute the funds for Jerusalem.

Second Corinthians 8:16–24 describes the three men who will be coming to Corinth. After delivering this letter, they will help collect the Corinthian's contribution to the needs of suffering Christians in Jerusalem. The Corinthians know Titus, who recently returned from Corinth, and that he cares for the Corinthians as deeply as Paul himself. Titus will be accompanied by two delegates from other churches to prove that everything is done honestly and with transparency. These men will then report back to their churches how the Corinthians participated in the collection.

The Corinthians had previously agreed to contribute to a collection. This was for suffering Christians in Jerusalem. Paul raises the issue with them, pointing to the example of the poverty-stricken Macedonian churches who had given beyond their means of their own free will. Paul urges the Corinthians to follow through on their commitment by their own choice. Titus and two representatives of other churches are coming to Corinth to oversee the collection so it is done with integrity. Paul urges the Corinthians to prove their love by following through on their commitment to give.

Second Corinthians 8 follows Paul's expression of comfort and rejoicing at what he learned from Titus. That news explained the Corinthians' repentance in response to Paul's letter of rebuke. Next Paul urges them to follow through on a commitment to contribute to a collection for the suffering Christians in Jerusalem. He points to the example of the generous gifts of the poverty-stricken Macedonian churches and asks the Corinthians to prove that their own Christlike love for others is genuine by excelling in this, as well. Titus and two delegates from other churches will come to Corinth to oversee the collection. In chapter 9, Paul will continue to discuss this ministry opportunity.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.

Accessed 11/21/2024 5:28:41 PM