2 Corinthians 8:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He speaks of his zeal in collecting alms: “he went to you of his own accord.” But these others, by contrast, he does not praise in the same way and does not even mention their names.

What shall we say to this? Perhaps they were unknown to the Corinthians. Therefore he does not enlarge upon their praises, since the Corinthians had not yet tested their virtues.

He says about them only what was needed to inspire a good opinion of them and remove suspicion. Yet let us see for what he praises this brother himself.

For what, then, does he praise him? First, for preaching, and because he not only preached, but preached as he ought and with proper diligence. He did not say that he preached and proclaimed the Gospel, but that he was “praised in the Gospel.”

So that they might not think he was flattering him, he brings as witnesses not one, two, or three persons, but all the churches. He says, “throughout all the churches.”

Then he counts to his honor the judgment of those who ordained him, which also is no small matter. Therefore, after the words, “praised throughout all the churches in the Gospel,” he added, “and not only that” (2 Cor 8:19).

What does “and not only that” mean? He is worthy of respect not only because everyone approves and praises him for preaching, but also because he “was chosen by the churches to travel with us.”

From this I surmise that the Apostle means Barnabas. Next he indicates his great dignity by showing for what purpose he was ordained: “to travel with us in this grace which is ministered by us.”

Do you see how many praises he ascribes to him? He became renowned through the preaching of the Gospel, and he had testimony to this from all the churches.

“He was consecrated with us,” that is, to the same ministry as Paul. Everywhere he was his companion, both in temptations and in afflictions, as the word “travel with us” shows.

But what do the words mean, “in this grace which is ministered by us”? It means that he was chosen to announce the word and preach the Gospel, or to serve in the collecting of alms.

More likely, as it seems to me, the Apostle points to both together. Then he adds, “to the glory of the Lord Himself and to your eager readiness.”

The meaning of these words is this: “We entreated,” he says, “that he be chosen with us. We entrusted to him the office of steward of sacred goods and deacon.” This office was not unimportant.

It is written, “Choose from among yourselves seven men of good reputation” (Acts 6:3). He was chosen by the churches with the consent of the whole people.

What do the words mean, “to the glory of the Lord Himself and to your eagerness”? They mean this: “that God may be glorified, and that you may become more eager in giving.

“For those who receive these gifts will be tested men, so that no one can have any suspicion of them, not even a false one.”

The Apostle recalled this in the present case. For he said, “appointed to travel with us with this grace which is ministered by us,” that is, with the service rendered to the saints. Then he added, “to the glory of the Lord Himself and to our zeal,” because the Lord is glorified in this, and we prove our own zeal. But the Apostle also states why he sent such a man.

“That is, he was chosen to serve in the gathering of alms. We entreated, he says, that he be chosen and sent with us, entrusting to him the office of steward of church goods and deacon. For such an office is no small matter. ‘Select from among you seven men of good testimony’ (Acts 6:3), it was said of the deacons of Jerusalem. And he was chosen by the Churches with the consent of all the people” (St. Chrysostom).

From this the inference naturally follows. When the holy Apostles in Jerusalem gave St. Paul the right hand to go preach among the Gentiles, asking only that he remember the poor (Gal 2:9-10), St. Paul at the same time asked them to choose and send with him a reliable man. This man would chiefly oversee the work of remembering the poor.

Such a person was indeed chosen by common vote, ordained to this ministry, and always accompanied St. Paul. It is of him that he now speaks. All our interpreters reason thus and see in this person St. Barnabas.

“From this I infer,” says St. Chrysostom, “that the Apostle here means Barnabas.” So say all. Some difficulties may be raised against identifying him as Barnabas. Yet the whole course of the present discourse impresses this thought upon us. He was a man entrusted by the Churches of Palestine and appointed from the beginning to accompany St. Paul.

“To the glory of the Lord Himself and to your zeal.” That is, “so that God may be glorified, and you may become more zealous in giving. For those who receive these offerings will be proven men, so that no one can have any suspicion against them, not even a false one” (St. Chrysostom).

Some read, “to our zeal,” not “to your zeal.” Theodoret and Oecumenius also read it this way. In that case these words, like “to the glory of the Lord Himself,” must be connected with “appointed.” The meaning will be this: he was appointed to this work of gathering for the poor of Jerusalem. To the glory of the Lord, to assist our zeal in this work, and, one may add, to protect it from reproach, as the following words show.