SUMMARY
Paul commends Titus and two unnamed brothers who will be arriving in Corinth to assist with the collection of funds for the Jerusalem churches and defends his own honor as one trustworthy with such a gift.
ANALYSIS
In and around the theological claims Paul makes in his letters, he often includes specific details about everyday church matters. The last half of 2 Corinthians 8 abounds in such local color. Paul reports that Titus has volunteered to go to Corinth and help with the collection. (He may have been the bearer of the letter concerning the collection itself.)
In addition, two “brothers,” a common designation in the early church for fellow church members, will accompany Titus. The brothers are not named, and so we do not know to whom Paul refers. Whoever they are, Paul commends them to the Corinthians. These three leaders-Titus and the two unnamed brothers-will be accompanying Paul to Jerusalem with the gift that is being collected.
In this passage, Paul is not just commending coworkers. He is also defending himself against any appearance of impropriety. He will not disappear with their gift of funds for the other churches. He will be accompanied by other trustworthy fellow Christians. His comment that “we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others” (2 Corinthians 8:21) is a paraphrase of Proverbs 3:4.
