2nd Corinthians Chapter 8 verse 20 Holy Bible
Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in `the matter of' this bounty which is ministered by us:
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And so that no man might be able to say anything against us in the business of this giving which has been put into our hands:
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avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance [which is] administered by us;
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Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
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We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.
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avoiding this, lest any one may blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 20. - Avoiding this. The object in sending Titus and the brother was to cut away the possibility of blame and suspicion. The word "avoiding" (stellomenoi) literally means "furling sail," and then "taking precautions." It may, however, mean "making this arrangement" (see 2 Thessalonians 3:6). Too much stress has been laid on St. Paul's "use of nautical terms" (Acts 20:20; Galatians 2:12, etc.). They belong, in fact, to the very phraseology of the Greek language. That no man should blame us (see 2 Corinthians 6:3). St. Paul here sets a valuable and necessary example to all Christians who are entrusted with the management of charitable funds. It is their duty to take every step which may place them above the possibility of of suspicion. Their management of the sums entrusted to them should be obviously and transparently business-like and honourable. St. Paul taught this behaviour both by example and by precept (Romans 12:17; Philippians 4:8). There is such a thing as a foolish and reprehensible indifference to public opinion (1 Peter 2:12). Yet with all his noble carefulness, St. Paul did not escape this very slander (2 Corinthians 12:18). In this abundance. The word, which occurs here only, means literally "succulence," but in the LXX. the adjective means "rich" (1 Kings 1:9). It here implies that the sum which had been collected by St. Paul's exertion was a large one.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(20) Avoiding this, that no man should blame us.--He gives this as the reason why he wished men thus appointed to travel with him. He desired to guard against the suspicion of those who were too ready to suspect. His companions were to bear witness that the sums which he took up with him from the several churches were what had actually been collected. They were to be, practically, auditors of his accounts. (See Note on Acts 20:4.) He dwells again, later on in the Epistle (2Corinthians 12:18-19), on the same measure of precaution.This abundance.--The word, which primarily signifies "succulence," or juiciness, as used of plants and fruits, does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It has rather the look of belonging to St. Luke's medical vocabulary, and is, indeed, used by Hippocrates (De Gen, p. 28) of the full habit of body of a youth attaining puberty.
