2 Corinthians 8:19

Contextual Overview

¹⁶I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. ¹⁶ Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. ¹⁶ But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. ¹⁶But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. ¹⁶I'm thankful God put y'all on Titus's heart just like y'all are on mine. ¹⁶ But praise be to God, who puts the same care for you into the heart of Titus. ¹⁶ But thanks [be] to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus. ¹⁶ Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. ¹⁶ But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. ¹⁶ But thanks be to God, who put the same diligent care for you in the heart of Titus.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

but: 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, Acts 6:3-6, Acts 15:22, Acts 15:25, 1 Corinthians 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:4

grace: or gift, 2 Corinthians 8:4, 2 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 8:7, 2 Corinthians 9:8

to the: 2 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Corinthians 8:2, 2 Corinthians 4:15, 2 Corinthians 9:12-14, Philippians 4:18, Philippians 4:19, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Peter 4:11

Reciprocal: John 12:6 - the bag 2 Corinthians 8:18 - the brother 2 Corinthians 8:23 - the messengers 2 Corinthians 9:2 - the forwardness 2 Corinthians 9:11 - which

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches,.... Not only famous for preaching the Gospel, but he was also appointed by the joint suffrages of the churches, which were made by the lifting up or stretching out of the hand, as the word here used signifies; this brother was not chosen to this service by a few private persons, or by a single church only, but by several churches; which does not refer to the churches at Jerusalem and Antioch, as if the apostles were appointed, and others were appointed by these churches to travel with them, in order to collect money for the poor saints at Jerusalem; of which no mention is any where made, only of their being sent out by them to preach the Gospel. James, Cephas, and John indeed, when they gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that they might go to the Heathen, desired them to "remember the poor"; Galatians 2:9 but these were not the churches. The church at Antioch did collect for the brethren in Judea, at the time of the famine among them, and sent their bounty by the hands of Barnabas and Saul, which seems to be the case here. This brother was chosen by the churches who collected, and not by the churches in Judea, for whom the collections were made; for it was usual, and what was right and proper, that the churches chose whom they thought fit to carry their liberality to Jerusalem; see 1 Corinthians 16:3. Now this brother had the honour to be chosen by these churches,

to travel, says the apostle,

with us, with this grace; bounty or beneficence of the churches, what they had freely and liberally contributed for the supply of the poor, from a principle of grace, and by the assistance of it;

which is administered by us; not given by the apostles, but collected by them; or what was procured by their means, in the several churches to whom they had moved it, and by proper arguments had excited them to it, with which they cheerfully complied: and this was done on a two fold account, both

to the glory of the same Lord: Jesus Christ, who is the one Lord over all; the same Lord of the apostles, and the church at Corinth; the same Lord of the Corinthians, and the Macedonian and other churches; and the same Lord of the poor saints at Jerusalem, and the rich members of the several churches that contributed to them: and also to

the declaration of your ready mind; or to stir up their ready mind to increase it and promote it in them, as well to make it manifest, and that it might appear to others, how readily and freely they came into this service; so that the apostle's concern in this administration was not from any sinister and selfish ends; no, nor so much for the relief of the poor, though this was greatly designed, as for the glory of Christ, and the honour of his churches.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And not that only - Not only is he esteemed on account of other services which he has rendered by his preaching and writings; but he has had a new mark of the confidence of the churches in being appointed to convey the collection to Jerusalem.

Chosen of the churches - Chosen by the churches. Many concurred in the choice, showing that they had entire confidence in him. Paul had been unwilling to have charge of this contribution alone (1 Corinthians 16:3-4; compare 2 Corinthians 8:20), and he had procured the appointment of some one to undertake it. Probably he expected that the church at Corinth would concur in this appointment.

With this grace - Margin, “Gift;” see 2 Corinthians 8:1. The word here refers to the alms, or the collection which had been made.

Which is administered by us - That is, which is undertaken by us. Paul had been the instrument of procuring it.

To the glory of the same Lord - The Lord of us all. The design was to promote the glory of the Lord by showing the influence of religion in producing true benevolence.

And declaration of your ready mind - That is, to afford you an opportunity of evincing your readiness to do good to others, and to promote their welfare.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Chosen of the Churches to travel with us — χειροτονηθεις. Appointed by a show of hands; from χειρ the hand, and τεινω, to extend. This appointment, by the suffrage of the Churches, seems to refer more to St. Luke than any one else; unless we suppose he refers to the transaction, Acts 15:40; Acts 15:41, and then it would appear that Silas is the person intended.

With this grace — Liberal contribution. See on 2 Corinthians 8:1.

Your ready mind. — Your willingness to relieve them. But, instead of υμων, your, ημων, our, is the reading of almost all the best MSS. and all the versions. This is, doubtless, the reading.