seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
2 Corinthians 8:16 Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.
22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
2 Corinthians 9:1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Once again, the message moved across chapters.... ugh. This is from the first commentary.And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches: Commentators have had a field day trying to identify the brother mentioned here. Who is he?
Also in the sight of men is a reminder that all things financial in the church should be conducted above board and properly. Paul took whatever steps were necessary so no one could blame him with financial impropriety. Paul could write like a poet and think like a theologian; but he could also act with the meticulous accuracy and integrity of the best accountant.
This is from the next chapter.It is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know your willingness: Here, Paul may be showing his sarcasm again. The basic idea is, “I don’t even need to write this, reminding you about the collection, because you are already ready and willing to give.” Of course, if the Corinthian Christians were really as ready and willing as Paul seems to indicate, he really wouldn’t need to write this at all.
We think Paul is being sarcastic here because if the Corinthians really were such great examples in giving, and if their giving prompted others to give, then Paul would never have to give them as much instruction and encouragement as he does in 2 Corinthians.
Yet I have sent the brethren: Paul again is giving a little sarcastic twist. It is as if he says, “You all are so ready and willing to give that I’m sure you would bring the collection to me. But in any regard, I’ll send the brethren to come pick it up. After all, I don’t want all my boasting about you to have been in vain.”
Therefore I thought it necessary… that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation: Paul wanted the whole business of the collection completed before he arrived so that there would be nothing even remotely manipulative in his receiving the collection.
I don't think Paul likes the Corinthians! He's sneering at them through the words of the manuscript. Maybe they didn't buy the "knocked me down and told me... but no one saw or heard" bit. When an unrepentant murderer starts wielding the pulpit.... All kinds of sarcastic miserable pedophilic dealings become normal.I don't think the Corinthians trust Paul, or the men who work with him. Maybe they wonder if those men were in the "here hold my coat" murder of Stephen. It's like he's the rotten apple hiding in the bushel full of apples that are really good. Perhaps they are no better than him. He's just tainting their mission with his greed. IMHO that is. No preacher is going to say that... well, none I've met.... well, maybe the guy over on Water Street in Baltimore.
According to Got Questions.... Titus was a Gentile Christian. Paul preached that Titus was a great example of how the cutting of the thingy wasn't necessary. I'm sure Titus was happy that Paul came up with that thingy saving rule for young men like him.
I keep thinking of the westerns I watch every day. The bad guy, Paul, is writing to the banker in the next town about the two hoodlums, Titus and Timothy. That way the bank will be poached while Paul is safe with his quill in hand, running the show. "Bandits.... no .... you can trust us... We have one boy who is cut and one that is not.... how much more proof do you need... hand over the shiny Ducketts."
With the church in Corinth divided over thingy cutting and kosher traditions, Paul is sending Timothy and Titus to pick up the cash. I wonder if the thingy cutting controversy caused the people to dig deeper into their wallets to prove they were superior.
Get your hands up... empty your pockets....
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