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2Co_8:20. Στελλόμενοι τοῦτο ] goes along with συνεπέμψαμεν in 2Co_8:18. We have sent also the brother, who is honoured by all, and in addition has been chosen by the churches as our associate in this matter, inasmuch as we thereby avoid this, that no one, etc. Rückert (comp. de Wette) arbitrarily, because with unnecessary harshness, holds that Paul has abandoned the construction, and instead of writing στελλόμεθα γάρ , has put the participle, because he had had in his mind the thought: “I have caused him to be elected.” Hofmann connects it in an abnormal construction with προθυμ . ἡμῶν , which in itself would be admissible (see on 2Co_1:7), but cannot suit here, because πρὸς τ . προθυμ . ἡμ . was a definition of the aim contemplated not by Paul, but by the χειροτονήσαντες ; the connection would be illogical.
According to linguistic usage, στελλόμενοι τοῦτο (see Kypke, Obss. II. p. 259 f., 344; Schott on 2 Thess. p. 271) may mean: (1) making this arrangement[282] (so, in the main, Kypke, Rückert, Hofmann), in which case there is not brought out any significant bearing of the words, and besides, the aorist participle could not but be expected; or (2) inasmuch as we draw back from this, shrink from and avoid this (Hesychius: στέλλεσθαι · φοβεῖσθαι ); so Chrysostom, Theophylact, Luther, and most, following the Itala and Vulgate: “devitantes,” Gothic: “bivandjandans.” Comp. LXX. Mal_2:5. The latter is to be preferred as most appropriate in the connection, and agreeing with 2Th_3:6. The reading ὙΠΟΣΤΕΛΛΌΜΕΝΟΙ in F G is a correct gloss. Paul in his humility and practical wisdom did not deem it beneath his dignity to obviate calumnie.
ΤΟῦΤΟ ] would in itself be superfluous, but it serves as an emphatic preparation for the following ΜΉ ΤΙς Κ . Τ . Λ . See Winer, p. 152 [E. T. 200].
ΜΉ ΤΙς ἩΜᾶς ΜΩΜΉΣ .] ΜΉ after the notion of anxiety (Baeumlein, Partik. p. 288), which lies in στελλόμ .: that no one may reproach us (as if we were embezzling, not dealing conscientiously with the distribution, and the like) in this abundance.
ἐν ] in puncto of this abundance. Comp. ἐν τῷ εὐαγγ ., 2Co_8:18; ἘΝ Τῇ ΧΆΡ ., 2Co_8:19.
ἉΔΡΌΤΗς , from ἉΔΡΌς , dense, thick, means in Homer (Il. xxii. 263, xvi. 857, xxiv. 6): “habitudo corporis firma et succulenta,” Duncan, Lex., ed. Rost, p. 20. Afterwards it occurs in all relations of the adjective, as in reference to plants and fruits (Theophr., Herod. i. 17), to speech (Diog. Laert. 10:83), to tone (Athen. x. p. 415 A), to snow (Herod. iv. 31), etc. Hence what abundance is meant, is determined solely by the context. Here: abundance of charitable gifts. According to Wetstein, Zosimus has it also four times “pro ingenti largitione.” Rückert’s proposal to understand it of the great zeal of the contributors, which was produced through the apostle’s ministry ( τῇ διακ . ὑφʼ ἡμῶν ), would only be admissible in the event of there being anything in the context about such zeal. As it is, however, ἘΝ Τῇ ἉΔΡ . ΤΑΎΤῌ is in substance the same as ἘΝ Τῇ ΧΆΡΙΤΙ ΤΑΎΤῌ in 2Co_8:19. Comp. 2Co_8:3.
[282] In this case τοῦτο would not have to be taken as equivalent to ἑπὶ τοῦτο (preparing ourselves for this), but as simple accusative of the object, as in Polyb. ix. 24. 4 : πορείαν ἐπενόει στέλλεσθαι , Arrian, An. v. 17. 4; Wis_14:1; 2Ma_5:1. Comp. Blomfield, Gloss, in Aesch. Pers. p. 157 f.