Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 12:18
I desired Titus, and with [him] I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? [walked we] not in the same steps?
18. I desired Titus ] See ch. 2Co 8:6. This has also been thought to be the Epistolary aorist, and to have a present signification, as though the present letter had been sent by Titus, but the rest of the verse seems to point to some past occasion. See also ch. 2Co 13:2 ; 2Co 13:10, in the Greek.
a brother ] Literally, the brother. See ch. 2Co 8:18; 2Co 8:22.
in the same spirit ] i.e. the Holy Spirit. Cf. Gal 5:16.
in the same steps ] Perhaps those of Christ. See 1Pe 2:21. At least the expression marks the precise accordance between the conduct of the Apostle and his messengers.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I desired Titus – To go and complete the collection which you had commenced; see 2Co 8:6.
And with him I sent a brother – see note on 2Co 8:18.
Did Titus make a gain of you – They knew that he did not. They had received him kindly, treated him with affection, and sent him away with every proof of confidence and respect; see 2Co 7:7. How then could they now pretend that he had defrauded them?
Walked we not in the same spirit? – Did not all his actions resemble mine? Was there not the same proof of honesty, sincerity, and love which I have ever manifested? This is a very delicate turn. Pauls course of life when with them they admitted was free from guile and from any attempt to get money by improper means. They charged him only with attempting it by means of others. He now boldly appeals to them and asks whether Titus and he had not in fact acted in the same manner; and whether they had not alike evinced a spirit free from covetousness and deceit?
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. I desired Titus] I never sent any to you but Titus and another brother; 2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:18. And did Titus make a gain of you? Did he get any thing from you, either for himself or for me? You know he did not. He was actuated by the same spirit, and he walked in the same steps.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
18. I desired Titusnamely, togo unto you. Not the mission mentioned 2Co 8:6;2Co 8:17; 2Co 8:22;but a mission previous to this Epistle, probably that from which hehad just returned announcing to Paul their penitence (2Co7:6-16).
a brotherrather “OUR(literally, ‘the’) brother”; one well known to the Corinthians,and perhaps a Corinthian; probably one of the two mentioned in2Co 8:18; 2Co 8:22.
same spiritinwardly.
stepsoutwardly.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother,…. The apostle proceeds to mention one or two persons that he had sent unto them, and desires to know whether they could charge them with any such practices. He had desired, exhorted, and encouraged Titus to go unto them, and collect money from them; but not for either of themselves, but for the poor saints at Jerusalem; and he sent another brother along with him, who is by some supposed to be Luke, to be a companion of him, and an assistant to him; and who was a witness of what he did, and for what purpose he was sent, and how he behaved:
did Titus make a gain of you? did he greedily desire your substance? did he show an avaricious temper, or a covetous inclination after your money? did he by any methods extort it from you? say if Titus, or the brother with him, received anything from you, either on their own, or my account?
walked we not in the same Spirit? in the same Spirit of God, being directed and influenced by him; or in the same disposition of mind, being agreed and determined to preach the Gospel freely, and receive nothing for it:
walked we not in the same steps? took the same methods, lived the same course of life, working with their own hands to supply their wants, rather than be burdensome to others: the apostle suggests, that where are the same Spirit, temper, disposition, and principles, there will be the same works and actions; and as for covetousness, it is neither agreeable to the Spirit of God, nor to the spirit of a Christian.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The brother ( ). Probably the brother of Titus (cf. 8:18).
Did Titus take advantage of you? ( ?). That puts the issue squarely.
By the same Spirit ( ). That translation refers to the Holy Spirit and makes the case instrumental. The locative case, “in the same spirit,” makes it mean that Paul’s attitude is the same as that of Titus and most likely is correct, for “in the same steps” ( ) is in locative case.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother,” (parekalesa Titon kai sunapesteilaton adelphon) I entreated Titus and the brother sent with him;” and this brother was also approved by the churches, morally and ethically, as honest, trustworthy, 2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:18; 2Co 8:20.
2) “Did Titus make a gain of you?” (meti epleonektesen humas Titos) “Titus defrauded you all not, did he?” 2Co 8:21-24, as a leader of missionary, church sent messengers and servants in handling charitable and alms gifts, did Titus profiteer from you?
3) “Walked we not in the same spirit?” (ou to auto pneumati peri patesamen) “Did we not walk by the same spirit?” the same disposition of honesty? Answering church party contentions has been a disgraceful state in the church in all ages, 2Co 7:13; Rom 12:17.
4) “Walked we not in the same steps? (ou tois autois ichnesin) “Did we not walk in the same steps?” of sacrifice, service, and honesty? 2Co 8:21; 2Co 13:7; Php_4:8. To walk honestly, in the Spirit was becoming to this missionary, Gal 5:25.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(18) I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother.Better, the brother. The Greek has the article, and he refers definitely to the first of the two unnamed brethren alluded to in 2Co. 8:18-22. The Greek idiom of what is known as the epistolary aorist, hinders the English reader from seeing that St. Paul is referring to what was being done at the time when the letter was written. It would accordingly be better rendered, I have besought Titus to go; I am sending the brother with him. The ungenerous suspicions of some of the Corinthians had made him almost morbidly sensitive, and he repeats practically what he had said before (2Co. 8:20-21), that his motive in sending these delegates was to guard against them. Having stated this, he can appeal to their past knowledge of Titus, as a guarantee for the future. Had he sponged on any man, or tried what he could get out of him? Had he not identified himself with the Apostle, both in the general spirit which animated him and in the details of his daily life? It is a natural inference from this that Titus also had worked for his own maintenance and lived in his own lodging. If we may assume the identity of Titus with the Justus into whose house St. Paul went when he left the synagogue at Corinth (see Note on Act. 18:7), the appeal to the knowledge which the Corinthians had of him gains a new significance.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. By apostolic intimations and judicial warnings of apostolic penalties, 2Co 12:19 to 2Co 13:10.
18. Titus The most marked instance among them whom I sent. This is that sending of Titus, the return from which is stated in chap. 7.
A brother As his attendant: the brother in the Greek: implying the one whom, of course, the Corinthians well knew.
In the same spirit Same unselfish temper.
Steps Were not our actions as disinterested as our spirit?
‘I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?’
It was he who encouraged Titus to come with the other brother. Did he take advantage of them then? Did he not just behave like Paul. Did they both not walk in the same spirit? Were their footprints not going in the same direction?
To ‘walk in the same Spirit’ may indicate that both did what they did in response to the Holy Spirit. They were of one heart and mind because of His inworking. Unlike the pseudo-apostles whose view of the Spirit was that He would benefit them, not call on them for self-sacrifice. Alternately we may see it as ‘spirit’ with a small ‘s’ indicating that their mindset was the same because of what was in their hearts, paralleling ‘walk in the same steps’. They walked together because they were both agreed in their hearts.
2Co 12:18. I desired Titus, “To go to you.”
18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
Ver. 18. In the same spirit ] Who worketh with his own tools only, and is ever like himself in all the saints; through whose whole course godliness runs, as the woof doth through the web, as the spirit doth through the body.
In the same steps ] With an upright foot, Gal 2:14 ; in Christ,Col 2:6Col 2:6 ; as Christ, 1Jn 2:6 .
18. ] , scil. ‘ to go to you :’ see reff. This journey of Titus cannot, of course, be the one spoken of ch. 2Co 8:6 ; 2Co 8:17 ; 2Co 8:22 ; 2Co 8:24 ; but some previous mission to them before this Epistle was written: probably that from which he returned with the report of their penitence to Paul in Macedonia, ch. 2Co 7:6 ff. We certainly have not elsewhere any hint of having accompanied him on this journey: but this is no reason why it should not have been so.
perhaps, one of the two mentioned ch. 2Co 8:18 ; 2Co 8:22 ; some other, well known to the Corinthians, but absolutely unknown to us: but not, a brother , as in E. V. It is plain from this and from what follows, that this brother was quite subordinate to Titus in the mission.
.] dat. of the manner ; see ref. The Spirit in which they walked was the Holy Spirit : , Theophyl.
. .] in the same footsteps , viz. each as the other: , , , Theophyl. The dative , as in ref.= : see also Act 14:16 ; Jud 1:11 . Meyer cites Pind. Pyth. 2Co 12:20 , , and Nem. vi. 27, . Cf. also Philo de Caritate, 2, vol. ii. p. 385, .
2Co 12:18 . . . .: I exhorted Titus (see on 2Co 8:6 ), and I sent the brother with him . This was the mission from which Titus’ return is recorded above (2Co 7:6 ), We do not know the name of his companion; but it is highly probable that Titus and this are the who were the bearers of the former letter to Corinth (1Co 16:12 ). . . . .: surely Titus took no advantage of you? walked we not ( i.e. , Titus my emissary and I myself) by the same spirit and in the same steps? It is plain that Titus’ first mission had been admirably fulfilled, and that the Corinthians had recognised his single-mindedness and sincerity (see 2Co 7:13 ). To their good opinion of him St. Paul might fairly point, for Titus, after all, had only carried out his instructions.
with, &c. Greek. sunopostello. App-174. Only here.
a = the. See 2Co 8:18.
spirit. App-101. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy for mind. The internal purpose, in contrast with the external walk.
steps. Greek. ichnos. See Rom 4:12.
18.] , scil. to go to you: see reff. This journey of Titus cannot, of course, be the one spoken of ch. 2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:17; 2Co 8:22; 2Co 8:24; but some previous mission to them before this Epistle was written: probably that from which he returned with the report of their penitence to Paul in Macedonia, ch. 2Co 7:6 ff. We certainly have not elsewhere any hint of having accompanied him on this journey: but this is no reason why it should not have been so.
-perhaps, one of the two mentioned ch. 2Co 8:18; 2Co 8:22; some other, well known to the Corinthians, but absolutely unknown to us: but not, a brother, as in E. V. It is plain from this and from what follows, that this brother was quite subordinate to Titus in the mission.
.] dat. of the manner; see ref. The Spirit in which they walked was the Holy Spirit: , Theophyl.
. .] in the same footsteps, viz. each as the other: , , , Theophyl. The dative , as in ref.= : see also Act 14:16; Jud 1:11. Meyer cites Pind. Pyth. 2Co 12:20,- , and Nem. vi. 27, . Cf. also Philo de Caritate, 2, vol. ii. p. 385, .
2Co 12:18. , I exhorted) to go to you.- , the brother) he seems to have been a Corinthian.-, in spirit) inwardly.-, steps) outwardly.
2Co 12:18
2Co 12:18
I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?-By this series of questions he reminds his readers of the course of unselfish service which he and his messengers had followed. From first to last, his dealings with the Corinthians had shown only devotion and self-forgetfulness and love.
[That Paul should think it necessary to guard against insinuations so ungenerous and so unfounded is proof of his wisdom in refusing to give such antagonists the least occasion to question the purity of his motives, and at the same time exposed their selfish ends in the course they pursued.]
Titus: 2Co 2:12, 2Co 2:13, 2Co 7:2, 2Co 7:6
with: 2Co 8:6, 2Co 8:18
walked we not in the same spirit: 2Co 8:6, 2Co 8:16-23, Phi 2:19-22
in the same steps: Num 16:15, 1Sa 12:3, 1Sa 12:4, Neh 5:14, Act 20:33-35, Rom 4:12, 1Pe 2:21
Reciprocal: 2Co 8:23 – Titus 2Co 12:17 – General Col 4:8 – I have Tit 1:4 – Titus 2Pe 2:3 – through
2Co 12:18. In 2Co 8:16-22 is an account of the visit of Titus and the “brother” to the church at Corinth. Paul asks if Titus got anything from them wrongfully at that time. Had he done so they would have used it as evidence, which would have been easily proved since Titus was not alone. This other brother who was with him was “praised” or recommended “throughout all the churches.” Walked we not, etc. Paul’s question is really a challenge for them to show any inconsistency in his conduct, in view of what they knew concerning this visit of Titus.
I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? [Now let us look at the facts and see where I used such guile. My detractors admit that I myself took nothing: then I must have taken it through the agency of others. If so, by whom? Titus and the brother who accompanied him were the only agents I sent. Did Titus thus cheat you in my behalf? Did he not, on the contrary, show you the same inner spirit of self-sacrifice which I displayed? Did he not outwardly follow my plans, exhorting you not to give it to him, or send it to me, but to lay it up in your own treasury weekly as I directed? See 1Co 16:1-2 . If Titus, as we have supposed, accompanied the messengers who bore Paul’s first epistle to Corinth, he very naturally carried out the directions of that epistle. Who was then with him we do not know. Titus had not yet reached Corinth to undertake this work a second time as Paul directed (2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:16-17). Paul’s actions were ever free from guile or covetousness– 1Th 2:3-5]
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)