In the next chapter the apostle (being on his way to Judea) exhorts the
Corinthians to prepare relief for the poor of Israel; sending Titus that
all might be ready as of a willing mind-a disposition of which he had
spoken on his journey as existing among these Christians, so that others
had been stirred up to give likewise. And now, while reckoning upon their
goodwill, and knowing that they had begun a year before. he would run no
risk of finding that facts gave the lie to what he had said of them. Not
that he would burden the Corinthians and ease those of Judea, but that the
rich should provide for the need of the poor brethren, in order that none
should be in want. Every one, if his will were in it, should be accepted of
God according to his ability. He loved a cheerful giver. Only they should
reap according as they sowed. Titus, happy at the result of his first
visit, and attached to the Corinthians, was ready to go again and gather
this fruit also for their own blessing. With him went the messengers of the
other churches, charged with the collection made among them for the same
purpose-a brother known to all the churches, and another of approved
diligence, stimulated by Paul's confidence in the Corinthians. The apostle
would not take charge of the money without having companions whose charge
it should also be, avoiding all possibility of reproach in affairs of this
kind, taking care that everything should be honest before men as well as
before God. Nevertheless he did not speak by commandment in all this, but
on account of the zeal of other churches, and to prove the sincerity of
their love.
It will be remembered that it was this collection which occasioned all that
happened to Paul at Jerusalem-that which put an end to his ministry,
stopped him on his way into Spain, and perhaps other places; and which, on
the other hand, gave occasion to write the epistles to the Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and, it may be, to the Hebrews. How
little we know the bearing of the circumstances we enter upon, happy that
we are led by Him who knows the end from the beginning, and who makes all
things work for good to those who love Him!
In closing those exhortations to give according to their ability, he
commends them to the rich goodness of God, who was able to make them abound
in all things, so that they should be in circumstances to multiply their
good works, enriched to all bountifulness, so as to produce in others (by
means of the apostle's services in this respect) thanksgiving unto God.
For, he adds, the happy effect of your practical charity, exercised in the
name of Christ, would not only supply the want of the saints (through his
administration of the collection made at Corinth) but abound also in
thanksgiving to God; for, those who received it blessed God that their
benefactors had been brought to confess the name of Christ, and to act with
this practical liberality to them and to all. And this thought stirred them
up to pray with fervent desire for those who provided in this way for their
need, because of the grace of God manifested in them. Thus the bonds of
eternal charity were strengthened on both sides, and glory redounded to
God. Thanks be to God, says the apostle, for His unspeakable gift; for
whatsoever may be the fruits of grace, we have the proof and the power in
that which God has given. Here ends the matter of the epistle properly so
called.
