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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Corinthians 4:15 - 4:15
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15. τὰ γὰρ πάντα διʼ ὑμᾶς. Once more (see on 2Co 3:2) we see the Apostle’s affection for his converts forcing its way to the front. The γάρ refers specially to σὺν ὑμῖν, but may cover the whole of 2Co 4:7-14. His ceaseless afflictions, perplexities, persecutions, overthrows, and approaches to death (8–10), with his equally ceaseless deliverances, and his consequent work for the Gospel, have all been for their sakes, that life may work in them (2Co 4:12).
ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων. In order that the grace being made more by means of the more may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Note the alliteration, which indicates that διὰ τῶν πλειόνων belongs to πλεονάσασα rather than to περισσεύῃ. The meaning is not clear, but the sequence of thought may be as follows: ‘We endure all for your sake, in order that the Divine help which enables me to bear all, granted to me in answer to your prayers, may call out your thanksgiving, and so may redound to the glory of God.’ Comp. 2Co 1:11. With περισσεύω transitive comp. 2Co 9:8; Eph 1:8; 1Th 3:12. It is commonly intransitive (2Co 1:5, 2Co 3:9, 2Co 8:2, 2Co 9:12), and may be taken so here: in order that grace, being made more, may abound to the glory of God, on account of the thanksgiving of the more. As in 2Co 2:6 (see note), the A.V. here renders τῶν πλειόνων ‘many,’ instead of ‘the majority.’ He does not say ‘all,’ because there were some Corinthians of whom this was not true.