2 Corinthians 8:20 - Exposition

Avoiding this. The object in sending Titus and the brother was to cut away the possibility of blame and suspicion. The word "avoiding" ( stellomenoi ) literally means "furling sail," and then "taking precautions." It may, however, mean "making this arrangement" (see 2 Thessalonians 3:6 ). Too much stress has been laid on St. Paul's "use of nautical terms" ( Acts 20:20 ; Galatians 2:12 , etc.). They belong, in fact, to the very phraseology of the Greek language. That no man should blame us (see 2 Corinthians 6:3 ). St. Paul here sets a valuable and necessary example to all Christians who are entrusted with the management of charitable funds. It is their duty to take every step which may place them above the possibility of of suspicion. Their management of the sums entrusted to them should be obviously and transparently business-like and honourable. St. Paul taught this behaviour both by example and by precept ( Romans 12:17 ; Philippians 4:8 ). There is such a thing as a foolish and reprehensible indifference to public opinion ( 1 Peter 2:12 ). Yet with all his noble carefulness, St. Paul did not escape this very slander ( 2 Corinthians 12:18 ). In this abundance. The word, which occurs here only, means literally "succulence," but in the LXX . the adjective means "rich" ( 1 Kings 1:9 ). It here implies that the sum which had been collected by St. Paul's exertion was a large one.