This statement may seem at first view to suit ill, or not sufficiently well, with what goes before; for he seems to speak of a new matter, that he had not previously touched upon, while in reality he is following out the same subject.

2. For which I have boasted. He shows the good opinion that he had of them from this, that he had, in a manner, stood forward as their surety by asserting their readiness.

3. But I have sent the brethren. He now brings forward the reason – why it is that, while entertaining a favorable opinion as to their willingness, he, nevertheless, sets himself carefully to exhort them.

4. In this confidence The Greek term being ὑπόστασις the Old Interpreter has rendered it substantiam, (substance.) Erasmus renders it argumentum, (subject-matter) but neither is suitable.

5. As a blessing, not in the way of niggardliness In place of blessing, some render it collection. I have preferred, however, to render it literally, as the Greeks employed the term εὐλογίας to express the Hebrew word ברכה, (beracah) which is used in the sense of a blessing, that is, an invoking of…

6. Now the case is this He now commends alms-giving by a beautiful similitude, comparing it to sowing. For in sowing, the seed is cast forth by the hand, is scattered upon the ground on this side and on that, is harrowed, and at length rots; and thus it seems as good as lost.

For God loveth a cheerful giver He calls us back to God, as I said in the outset, for alms are a sacrifice. Now no sacrifice is pleasing to God, if it is not voluntary.

8. And God is able Again he provides against the base thought, which our infidelity constantly suggests to us. “What! will you not rather have a regard to your own interest? Do you not consider, that when this is taken away, there will be so much the less left for yourself?” With the view of…

9. As it is written, He hath dispersed He brings forward a proof from Ps. 112:9, where, along with other excellencies of the pious man, the Prophet mentions this, too, – that he will not be wanting in doing good, but as water flows forth incessantly from a perennial fountain, so the gushing forth…

10. He that supplieth. A beautieth circumlocution, in place of the term God, and full of consolation. For the person that sows seed in the proper season, appears when reaping to gather the fruit of his labor and industry, and sowing appears as though it were the fountainhead from which food flows…

11. May be enriched unto all bountifulness. Again he makes use of the term bountifulness, to express the nature of true liberality – when, casting all our care upon God, we cheerfully lay out what belongs to us for whatever purposes He directs.

By the term administration, he means what he had undertaken at the request of the Churches. Now what we render functionem (service), is in the Greek λειτουργία term that sometimes denotes a sacrifice, sometimes any office that is publicly assigned. Either of them will suit this passage well.

13. By the experiment of that administration The term experiment here, as in a variety of other places, means proof or trial For it was a sufficient token for bringing the love of the Corinthians to the test, – that they were so liberal to brethren that were at a great distance from them.

14. And their prayer He omits no advantage which may be of any use for stirring up the Corinthians. In the first place, he has made mention of the comfort that believers would experience; secondly, the thanksgiving, by means of which God was to be glorified.