2 Corinthians 8:16-24

16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

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

19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind,

20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—

21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.

23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24 Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

Paul arranged that the purse of money for Judea should not be entrusted to him alone but that he should have companions in the trust, so as to avoid the possibility of a suspicion or accusation of mal-administration and personal profit.

Who Titus’ companions were is not stated but they are supposed to be Luke and Trophimus. — Williams, page 905

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Due to the large number of Gentile churches participating and the size of the offering for the Judaean poor, the gift was to be delivered by delegates, two or more from every church. These delegates would be men approved in writing by the congregations (1 Corinthians 16:3) “and,” says the apostle, “if it is meet that I go also, they shall go with me” (1 Corinthians 16:4).

In the case of Corinth Paul himself had provided three trusted men in addition to any whom they might wish to appoint (for there was much strife among them—1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20).

Titus they knew well, and trusted. Indeed, he had shown his great affection for them often, and again now as he was not only sent by Paul, but went to them “of his own accord.” With Titus, Paul sent “the brother,” also known “throughout all the churches” as a consecrated man of God. In fact “all the churches,” as a Christian fellowship, had chosen him to travel with the other delegates to watch over and deliver the collection. Many believe that this was Luke and, indeed, he would have been an appropriate choice for this position. — Stam, pages 179-180.

messengers (v.23) — Paul uses the word for “apostle,” but most likely just in its general sense of “sent ones.”

In verse 24, Paul makes a pointed statement encouraging the Corinthians to give the money they had promised to give in order to show “proof of your love” and evidence that they deserved the kind things Paul had said about them. It was time for them to do the right thing. Paul was giving them no more opportunity to delay.

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