2 Corinthians 8:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Again the Apostle praises Titus. Since he had been speaking about almsgiving, he now wants to speak also about those who will receive the offerings from the Corinthians and carry them. This was needed to increase the collection and stir greater readiness in those who gave.

The one who is assured of the servant's honesty and does not regard the receivers with suspicion gives more generously. Listen, then, how here too he praises those sent with the alms, in order to achieve this. Titus was first among them.

He says: "Thanks be to God, Who put such earnest care for you into the heart of Titus." What does "such" mean? Such as he had for the Thessalonians, or such as I have. Notice his wisdom.

How is it clear that God stirred Titus? From this: when I asked him, he accepted the request readily and did not murmur, but went voluntarily. For even before I asked him, he already had his own zeal.

Therefore we sent Titus, whom you honored and received. With him we also sent our brother, whom you did not know, yet whose praise in the Gospel is proclaimed throughout all the churches. This is Luke, ordained by the churches to be our fellow worker for this grace, in hanc gratiam, as in the Clementine Vulgate and the Russian translation. But the Greek has "with grace," as in some codices, the Vulgate, Armenian, Coptic, and Ethiopic, which we serve.

The righteous God, knowing that the Corinthians wished to advance, turned Titus's love toward them, so that through his preaching He might fulfill their will for good work. Titus, observing their achievements, is comforted and rejoices in them.

The Apostle again allowed them to see Titus's love for them, preparing them to be more obedient to his instructions.

He explains that Titus has his own diligence concerning them. There truly was a request from me, but he himself hastens to you. He does not so much fulfill my instruction as satisfy his own desire to be with you and work together with you for your good. "Although I asked him, he was not stirred by me, but by his own choice and by the grace of God. He went of his own will, that is, he seized the work for himself, hastened to the treasure, counted it his own profit to serve you, and loved you so strongly that I had no need to persuade him" (Chrysostom).