2Cor 8:10-11 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 10. And herein I give my advice . Not undertaking to command them, or to prescribe how much they should give. Advice will go much farther than commands on the subject of charities. For this is expedient for you . συμφερει. That is, this will be of advantage to you; it will be profitable; it will be becoming. The idea is, that they were bound by a regard to consistency and to their own welfare, to perform what they had purposed. It became them; it was proper, and was demanded; and there would have been manifest disadvantages if it had not been done. Who have begun before . Who commenced the collection a year before. See . It had been commenced with fair prospects of success, but had been interrupted probably by the dissensions which arose in the church there. Not only to do . Not merely to accomplish it as if by constraint, or as a matter of compulsion and drudgery. But also to be forward . Marg., " willing ." So the Greek, (τοθελειν). They were voluntary in this, and they set about it with vigorous and determined zeal and courage. There was a resolute determination in the thing, and a willingness and heartiness in it which showed that they were actuated by Christian principle. Consistency, and their own reputation and advantage, now demanded that they should complete what they had begun. (1) "forward" "willing"

2 Corinthians 8:10-11

Verse 10. And herein I give my advice. Not undertaking to command them, or to prescribe how much they should give. Advice will go much farther than commands on the subject of charities.

For this is expedient for you. συμφερει. That is, this will be of advantage to you; it will be profitable; it will be becoming. The idea is, that they were bound by a regard to consistency and to their own welfare, to perform what they had purposed. It became them; it was proper, and was demanded; and there would have been manifest disadvantages if it had not been done.

Who have begun before. Who commenced the collection a year before. See 2Cor 8:6. It had been commenced with fair prospects of success, but had been interrupted probably by the dissensions which arose in the church there.

Not only to do. Not merely to accomplish it as if by constraint, or as a matter of compulsion and drudgery.

But also to be forward. Marg., "willing." So the Greek, (τοθελειν). They were voluntary in this, and they set about it with vigorous and determined zeal and courage. There was a resolute determination in the thing, and a willingness and heartiness in it which showed that they were actuated by Christian principle. Consistency, and their own reputation and advantage, now demanded that they should complete what they had begun.

(1) "forward" "willing" Verse 11. As there was a readiness to will. Now accomplish the thing, and be not satisfied with having begun it. Do not suppose that the intention was sufficient, or that you are now released from the obligation. A year indeed has elapsed; but the necessity of the aid for the poor has not ceased. The sentiment here is, that if we have felt it our duty to aid in a cause of benevolence, and have commenced it, and have then been interrupted in executing our purpose, we should seize the first favourable opportunity to accomplish what we had designed. We should not regard ourselves as released from our obligation; but should, from a regard to consistency and our obligation to God, accomplish what we had intended.

Out of that which ye have. According to your ability. See 2Cor 8:12. It should be in proportion to your means.

(a) "perform the doing" 1Timm 6:19, Heb 13:16, Jas 2:15,16