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2Co_8:19. As στελλόμενοι in 2Co_8:20 is connected with συνεπέμψαμεν in 2Co_8:18, 2Co_8:19 is a parenthesis (Beza, Lachmann) in which Paul “generali testimonio subjungit speciale, quod praesenti negotio congruit,” Calvi.
οὐ μόνον δέ ] sc. ἐπαινούμενος (or ἐπαινός , praised, or ἔνδοξος , or the like) ἐστι ἐν τῷ εὐαγγ . διὰ πασ . τῶν ἐκκλησ .[280] Comp. Rom_9:10; Rom_5:3; Rom_5:11; Rom_8:23.
ἀλλὰ καὶ χειροτονηθεὶς κ . τ . λ .] but also having been chosen by the (collecting) churches as our travelling companion, etc. The χειροτ . ὑπὸ τ . ἐκκλ . contains a point so important in its bearing that we may not take it parenthetically, thereby breaking up the flow of the discourse. So Hofmann, assigning the incorrect reason, moreover, that the perfect participle must have been used. The perfect might be used; but the aorist expresses the act done, whereby the person concerned became ἀπόστολος of the churches in this case (2Co_8:23), and so Paul has conceived of it here.
The ἐκκλησίαι here meant are, according to 2Co_8:1 ff., the Macedonian.
χειροτον .] suffragiis designates. How this election was conducted, we do not know. Perhaps by the presbyters as representatives of the churches, and on the proposal of the apostle. Comp. on Act_14:23.
ἐν τῇ χάριτι κ . τ . λ .] a more precise definition of the συνέκδ . ἡμῶν . It does not, however, simply mean: in the bringing over (Billroth; this arbitrary limitation was produced by the reading σύν ), but in general: in matters of this χάρις , i.e. in the prosecution, in the whole bringing about, of this kindness (this work of love), which is ministered by us, is effected through our ministry (comp. 2Co_3:3).
πρὸς τὴν τοῦ Κυρίου δόξαν κ . τ . λ .] is connected by most (including Theodoret, Beza, Grotius, Estius, Billroth, de Wette, Ewald, Neander) with τῇ διακον . ὑφ . ἡμ . But since in this way πρός (which is not, with Ewald, to be taken as according to, comp. 2Co_1:20) would have to combine two quite different relations: “in order to promote Christ’s honour and to prove our good-will;” and since, moreover, the latter element would be self-evident, tame, and superfluous,—we ought rather, with Chrysostom (who, however, reads ὑμῶν instead of ἡμῶν ), to construe with χειροτονηθεὶς κ . τ . λ .: elected, etc., in order to further Christ’s honour and our good-will. The election of this brother had as its object, that by his co-operation in this matter Christ should be honoured[281] and our desire and love for the work should not be lessened “ob metum reprehensionis illius, de qua mox loquitur” (Bengel), but should be maintained and advanced by freedom from such hindering anxiety, and by a fellow-worker thus authorized. The connection with χειροτονηθεὶς κ . τ . λ ., which Hofmann, attaching it also to συνεκδ . ἡμῶν , declares to be impossible (why?), places the election, which had primarily a business motive, under the higher ethical point of view.
[280] Buttmann, neut. Gr. p. 252 [E. T. 292], takes it differently: “who stands in repute, not only on this account ( ἐν τῷ εὐαγγ ., i.e. as a preacher of the gospel), but also as one elected by the churches.” But from the general ἐν τῷ εὐαγγ . to χειροτονηθ . there is no logical climax, as respects the specifying of a reason for the ἔπαινος ; whereas the predication ascends from the universal praise of the man to his being elected by the churches—so as to assign a ground for the συνεπέμψαμεν . Besides, his being elected was not the ground, but a consequence of his general repute, although it was the special ground for Paul’s sending him to Corinth.
[281] Rückert, though following likewise our mode of connection, holds that to the δίξα κυρίου this companionship could only have contributed negatively, in so far as it was a precaution against any suspicion falling on the apostle, which suspicion—according to a mode of view also Pauline—would have been transferred to Christ. Why, then, not positively also? The brother had in fact been chosen as a travelling associate co-operating in the work of collection, so that by his election the work might be prosecuted more extensively and more successfully. And thus the choice of this brother served positively to glorify Christ; hence also πρὸς … δόξαν is not to be held, with de Wette, as “rather unsuitable.”