2 Corinthians 8:16-21 (WEL) Thanks be to God, who gives the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17 For truly, he accepted our urgent appeal, and being eager on his own accord, he came to you of his own free will. 18 We have sent, with him, the brother whose admiration is spread throughout the congregations for the Good News. 19 Not only that, but he was also voted in by the congregations to travel with us with this gift, which is given by us for the glory of the Lord, himself, and because of your eagerness. 20 And to avoid a scandal, so no one would blame us for the large gift given by us. 21 Our purpose is to be honest not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of people.
V16 Thanks be to God, who gives the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
(Holman Commentary) “Paul mentioned that Titus was returning. It appears that the Corinthian church had a positive relationship with Titus. They received him well and honored him as a servant of Paul. So the apostle expressed thanks to God for putting affection for the Corinthians into the heart of Titus. Titus shared Paul’s love for the church and wanted nothing but the well-being of the believers there. Paul explained by saying that Titus did more than respond to the apostle’s appeal. He was coming. . . with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. He had so much affection for the church in Corinth that he voluntarily made the arduous journey to see them again.”
People have a limited libertarian free will by God’s decree, but He has the ability to motivate or change things as He wishes. Here, God motivates, invigorates, Titus as He will do for all believers.
V17 For truly, he accepted our urgent appeal, and being eager on his own accord, he came to you of his own free will.
Titus was not going to Corinth because Paul asked him to; he wanted to. He was eager to return to Corinth.
The Greek word free will is G0830 αὐθαίρετος authairetos, which means (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains (Louw & Nida)) “pertaining to being willing, with the implication of choice – willing, of one’s own free will.”
(AMG’s Comprehensive Dictionary of New Testament Words) “of one’s own accord, willing of one’s own accord.”
(Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words) “one who chooses his own course of action; acting spontaneously, of one’s own accord, 2 Corinthians 8:3, 17.”
It is not a decreed will or a decreed highest desire. The Holy Spirit does not lie.
AlterAI: “The word αὐθαίρετος is a compound adjective:
αὐτός (autos) = “self”
αἱρέω (haireō) = “to choose” or “to take”
“So quite literally, αὐθαίρετος means “self-chosen,” “of one’s own choosing,” or “voluntary.”
“It conveys that the initiative or choice originates from within the actor, not forced from without.”
V18 We have sent, with him, the brother whose admiration is spread throughout the congregations for the Good News.
This brother is unknown. There are many guesses, but Scripture does not reveal who this is. Some conjecture that this is Luke, and that Luke and Titus are brothers.
V19 Not only that, but he was also voted in by the congregations to travel with us with this gift, which is given by us for the glory of the Lord, himself, and because of your eagerness.
The assembly approved. The motive is to glorify God by helping fellow believers, and the eagerness of the Corinthians to join in this gift.
V20 And to avoid a scandal, so no one would blame us for the large gift given by us.
Paul does not want the credit, nor any false rumors or accusations floating around. Paul has witnesses.
V21 Our purpose is to be honest not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of people.
Paul emphasizes his honesty. The principle is that we often need witnesses to what we do, especially in church finances.
We learn:
- We are not coerced to give gifts to help other believers.
- We must have glorifying God as our motive for giving.
Questions:
- What is your motive for giving?
- Do you freely want to give?