17. ὅτι. The proof of his earnestness: For indeed he accepts our exhortation, but being all along very much In earnest, of his own accord (2Co 8:3) he is going forth to you. The verbs are epistolary aorists, from the point of view of the recipients of the letter: see on 2Co 2:3 and comp. 2Co 9:3; Col 4:8; Eph 6:22.