Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [2 Corinthians: Chapter 8].
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8:1 {The grace} (\t•n charin\). As manifested in the collection
in the churches, poor as they were. The Romans had lacerated
Macedonia (Livy, XLV. 30).
8:2 {Proof} (\dokim•i\). Tests as of metals as in 2:9.
{Abundance} (\perisseia\). Late word from \perisseu•\, to
overflow. {Their deep poverty} (\h• kata bathous pt•cheia
aut•n\). \Pt•cheia\ is old word from \pt•cheu•\, to be a beggar,
as of Jesus in 8:9 (from \pt•chos\, cowering in fear and
poverty, as in Lu 14:13, but ennobled by Christ as in Mt 5:3;
2Co 8:9). Poverty down deep. Strabo (LX 419) has \kata bathous\,
down to the bottom. {Liberality} (\haplot•tos\). From \haplous\,
single, simple (Mt 6:22). "The passage from single-mindedness
or simplicity to liberality is not quite obvious" (Plummer).
Perhaps "heartiness" supplies the connecting link. See also
9:11-13.
8:3 {Beyond their power} (\para dunamin\). "Alongside" with
accusative like \huper dunamin\ in 1:8. Field (_Ot. Nov_.)
quotes Josephus (_Ant_. iii. 6, 1) for \kata dunamin\ and \para
dunamin\ as here. Few give \kata dunamin\ (according to actual
ability). Paul commends this high pressure collection because of
the emergency. {Of their own accord} (\authairetoi\). Old verbal
adjective (\autos, hairetos\ from \haireomai\, to choose), of
their own initiative, voluntary. Only here and verse 17 in N.T.
Papyri often have \hekousi•s kai authairet•s\ (willingly and
voluntarily).
8:4 {Beseeching us with much intreaty in regard of this grace}
(\meta poll•s parakl•se•s deomenoi h•m•n t•n charin\). Literally,
"with much intreaty begging of us the favour and the partnership
in the ministry to the saints." The accusative (\charin\) after
\deomai\ is unusual. By \charis\ Paul means the privilege of
giving (cf. Ac 24:27). Apparently Paul had been reluctant to
press the Macedonians because of their manifest poverty. They
demanded the right to have a share in it.
8:5 {We had hoped} (\•lpisamen\). First aorist active indicative
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/2CO8.RWP.html (1 of 5) [28/08/2004 09:12:12 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(2 Corinthians: Chapter 8)