2 Corinthians 8

My Notes Authors John Calvin - Commentaries **_Beseeching us with much entreaty. _He enlarges upon their promptitude, inasmuch as they did not only not wait for any one to admonish them, but even _besought _those, by whom they would have been admonished, had they not anticipated the desires of all by their activity. 666666 “Le desir et la solicitation de tous par leur diligence et promptitude;” — “The desire and solicitation of all by their diligence and promptitude.” We must again repeat the comparison formerly made between the less and the greater. “If the Macedonians, without needing to be besought, press forward of their own accord, nay more, anticipate others by using entreaties, how shameful a thing is it for the Corinthians to be inactive, more especially after being admonished! If the Macedonians lead the way before all, how shameful a thing is it for the Corinthians not, at least, to imitate their example! But what are we to think, when, not satisfied with _beseeching, _they added to their requests _earnest entreaty, _and much of it too?” Now from this it appears, that they had _besought, _not as a mere form, but in good earnest.

My Notes Authors John Calvin - Commentaries **And not as He expected from them an ordinary degree of willingness, such as any Christian should manifest; but they went beyond his expectation, inasmuch as they not only had their worldly substance in readiness, but were prepared to devote even _themselves. They gave themselves, _says he, first to God, then to us. It may be asked, whether their giving themselves to God, and to Paul, were two different things. It is quite a common thing, that when God charges or commands through means of any one, he associates the person whom he employs as his minister, both in authority to enjoin, and in the obedience that is rendered.

My Notes Authors John Calvin - Commentaries **_That we should exhort Titus. _Now this is an exhortation that is of greater force, when they learn that they are expressly summoned to duty. 667667 “Quand ils oyent qu’on les somme nommeement et presentement de faire leur droit;” — “When they hear that they summon them expressly and presently to do their duty.” Nor was it offensive to the Macedonians, that he was desirous to have the Corinthians as partners in beneficence. In the mean time an apology is made for Titus, that the Corinthians may not think that he pressed too hard upon them, as if he had not confidence in their good disposition. For he did that, from having been entreated, and it was rather in the name of the Macedonians, than in his own.