TEXT: BIB   |   AUDIO: MISLR - MISC - DAVIS - FOCHT   |   VIDEO: BIB - COMM

HELPS: KJS - KJV - ASV - DBY - DOU - WBS - YLT - HEB - BBE - WEB - NAS - SEV - TSK - CRK - WES - MHC - GILL - JFB

2Co 9:12-14 Php 1:9-11 Tit 3:14 Heb 6:10 Jas 2:14,17

Verse 6. That the communication of thy faith] The words h koinwnia thv pistewv sou, the fellowship or communication of thy faith, may be understood as referring to the work of love towards the saints - the poor Christians, which his faith in Christ enabled him to perform, faith being taken here for its effects; and indeed the word koinwnia itself is not unfrequently used to denote liberality, almsgiving; and this is very properly remarked by Theophylact here: koinwnian pistewv elehmosunhn kalei, wv apo pistewv pollhv genomenhn? He terms almsgiving the communication of faith, because it is the fruit of much faith." May become effectual] Dr. Macknight understands these words thus: "That the many good offices which thou dost to the saints may become effectual in bringing others to the acknowledgment of every good disposition which is in you towards Christ Jesus, or towards his members." Instead of energhv, energetic or effectual, the Vulgate and some of the fathers, as well as several Latin MSS., have read enarghv, evident. This makes a very good sense, and seems to agree best with the scope of the place.

Instead of en umin, in YOU, en hmin in US, is the reading of all the best MSS., as well as of several versions and fathers.

Ver. 6. That the communication of thy faith , &c.] The grace of faith itself cannot be communicated from one to another; a believing parent cannot communicate it to his children, nor a master to his servants, nor a minister to his hearers; but an account of it, of its actings and exercises, of the joy of it, and of the peace a soul is filled with through believing, may be given to the mutual comfort and edification of saints; and it may be shown forth to others by the fruits of it, works of righteousness: but here it seems to design acts of beneficence, communicating to the necessities of others, as flowing from faith; and these words are to be connected with ( Philemon 1:4) as a part of the apostle's prayers, as what is contained in the preceding verse is the matter of his thanksgiving. And his prayer is, that such a communication of good things, which springs from faith, may be effectual ; to answer some very good purposes, the good of others, and the service of the interest of Christ, and the glory of God; or, as the Vulgate Latin version reads, only by the change of one letter, that it �may be evident�; to which the Syriac version seems to incline, rendering it, that it �may be fruitful in works�; or show itself in fruits of righteousness, in works of mercy and kindness; and the apostle's sense is, that it might be more and more so: by the acknowledging of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus ; the meaning is, that every good thing that is in the saints, or among them, should be acknowledged to come to them in and through Christ Jesus, in whom all fulness of grace dwells, and from whom all is imparted; and that every good thing that is communicated, or done in faith, which is effectual to any good purpose, should be owned as done by the grace and strength of Christ, and be done to his saints, as if done to himself, and be directed to his glory: the phrase, �in you�, respects not Philemon only, but Apphia, Archippus, and the church in Philemon's house; the Arabic version reads, in us.