2 Corinthians 8:16 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

But thanks be to God But while I speak of this collection which I am desirous of promoting, I would express my gratitude to God, who put the same earnest care Which I have; into the heart of Titus for you Namely, to promote this work among you. For he accepted the exhortation Complied with my desire to promote and perfect this work; being forward To undertake it; of his own accord Yea, before he was spoken to. And we I and Timothy; have sent with him the brother The ancients generally supposed this was St. Luke; whose praise For faithfully dispensing the gospel; is throughout all the churches Macknight interprets the clause, “whose praise, on account of the gospel which he hath written, is great, throughout all the churches of Christ in these parts.” And not that only Not only is he so much esteemed on these accounts, but he was also chosen Ordained and appointed; of the churches Whom we consulted on this occasion, particularly of Macedonia; to travel with us To accompany me to Jerusalem; with this grace This fruit of grace, this contribution; which is administered, &c. Which I have been the instrument of procuring; to the glory of the same Lord Jesus, and the declaration of your ready mind Your readiness to do works of charity to the saints. This is the second character of the person who was sent by the apostle with Titus to Corinth. He was chosen by the churches of Macedonia to accompany Paul to Jerusalem, to witness his delivering their gift. This character, likewise, agrees very well to Luke. For having resided long at Philippi, he was well known to the Macedonian churches, who, by making him their messenger to Judea, showed their great respect for him. Avoiding this Taking care of this; that no man should blame us Charge me with any undue partial dealing, or as being unfaithful; in this abundance This large collection, the management of which is intrusted with us. Providing for honest, or honourable things, not only in the sight of the Lord To whom it is and ought to be our first and chief care to approve ourselves; but also in the sight of men From whose minds I wish to remove every suspicion which might hinder my usefulness. And we have sent with them That is, with Titus and Luke; our brother Probably Apollos; whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many other affairs, but now much more In his endeavours to promote the collection among you; upon the great confidence, &c. That is, I have sent him with them upon the great confidence which I have as to your goodness and liberality. Or, connecting the clause with the words immediately preceding, the sense is, that the brother spoken of was much more ready to come to Corinth, and active in his endeavours to forward the collection, upon the great confidence which he had in the good disposition of the Corinthians to the work.