THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS - Chapter 8 - Verse 16

Verse 16. But thanks be to God. Paul regarded every right feeling, and every pure desire—every inclination to serve God or to benefit a fellow-mortal—as the gift of God. He therefore ascribes the praise to Him that Titus was disposed to show an interest in the welfare of the Corinthians.

The same earnest care. The earnest care here referred to was that the Corinthians might complete the collection, and finish what they had proposed. Titus was willing to undertake this, and see that it was done.

For you. For your completing the collection. Paul represents it as being done for them, or for their welfare. The poor saints in Judea, indeed, were to have the immediate benefit of the contribution; but it was a privilege for them to give, and Paul rejoiced that they had that privilege. A man who presents to Christians a feasible object of benevolence, and who furnishes them an opportunity of doing good to others, is doing good to them, and they should esteem it an act of kindness done to them.