2 Corinthians 8:18
in 2 Corinthians 8Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches;
KJV
And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 8
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThe brother, whose praise is in the Gospel - Who this brother was we cannot tell; some suppose it was St. Luke, who wrote a gospel, and who was the companion of St. Paul in several of his travels; others think it was Silas; others, Barnabas; others, Mark; and others, Apollos. Neither ancients nor moderns agree in either; but Luke, John, and Mark, seem to have the most probable opinions in their favor. Whoever the person was he was sufficiently known to the Corinthians, as we learn by what the apostle says of him in this place.
This site's exposition
who put into the heart of Titus
on 2 Corinthians 8:16-19
With Titus travels the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel, unnamed in the text. Verse 19 gives the safeguard: this brother was chosen by the churches, elected by the givers.
This site's exposition
the brother who is praised by all the churches
John Wesley says the ancients generally took this brother to be Luke. Chrysostom records both Luke and Barnabas, and Adam Clarke lists Silas, Mark and Apollos as well, noting that no one can tell. The Corinthians knew him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not to be one. "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." Men "believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth," the one "unto righteousness," the other "unto salvation." It is good to teach, if he who speaks also acts. For he who shall both "do and teach, the same shall be great in the kingdom."
And who is this brother? Some indeed say, Luke, because of the history which he wrote, but some, Barnabas; for he calls the unwritten preaching also Gospel. And for what cause does he not mention their names; whilst he both makes Titus known by name, and praises him for his cooperation in the Gospel, (seeing that he was so useful that by reason of his absence even Paul could do nothing great and noble; for, "because I found not Titus my brother, I had no relief for my spirit,") and for his love towards them, (for, saith he, "his inward affection is more abundant towards you;") and for his zeal in this matter ("for," he saith, "of his own accord he went")? But these he neither equally commends, nor mentions by name? What then is one to say? Perhaps they did not know them; wherefore he does not dwell upon their praises because as yet they had had no experience of them, but only says so much as was sufficient for their commendation unto them (i.e. the Corinthians,) and to their escaping all evil suspicion. However, let us see on what score he eulogizes this man himself also. On what score then does he eulogize? First, praising him from his preaching; that he not only preached, but also as he ought, and with the befitting earnestness. For he said not, 'he preaches and proclaims the Gospel,' but, "whose praise is in the Gospel." And that he may not seem to flatter him, he brings not one or two or three men, but whole Churches to testify to him, saying, "through all the churches." Then he makes him respected also from the judgment of those that had chosen him. And this too is no light matter.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Some understand this to mean Luke, on account of the Gospel written by him; others, Barnabas, since the apostle calls even unwritten preaching "the gospel." He does not expand in praises of him as he does of Titus, because he was not known to the …
Then when he says, "With him we are sending the brother," he treats of the second minister. In regard to this he does two things. First, he commends him; secondly, he gives the reason why he is sending such earnest messengers (v. 20). This brother, …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The brother - The ancients generally supposed this was St. Luke. Whose praise - For faithfully dispensing the gospel, is through all the churches.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He commends another brother, who was sent with Titus. It is generally thought that this was Luke. As a man whose praise was in the gospel through all the churches,
And we have sent with him the brother,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the brother, whose praise is in the gospel--whose praise is known in connection with the Gospel: Luke may be meant; not that "the Gospel" here refers to his written Gospel; but the language implies some one well known throughout the churches, and at that time with Paul, as Luke then was (Ac 20:6).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And we have sent with him the brother - It has been generally supposed that this anonymous brother was Luke. Some have supposed however that it was Mark, others that it was Silas or Barnabas. It is impossible to determine with certainty who it was; nor is it material to know. Whoever it was, it was some one well known, in whom the church at Corinth could have entire confidence. It is remarkable that though Paul mentions him again 2Co 12:18, he does it also in the same manner, without specifying his name. The only circumstances that can throw any light on this are: (1) That Luke was the companion and intimate friend of Paul, and attended him in his travels. From Act 16:10-11, where Luke uses the term “we,” it appears that he was with Paul when he first went into Macedonia, and from Act 16:15 it is clear that he went with Paul to Philippi. From Act 17:1, where Luke alters his style and uses the term “they,” it is evident that he did not accompany Paul and Silas when they went to Thessalonica, but either remained at Philippi or departed to some other place. He did not join them again until they went to Troas on the way to Jerusalem; Act 20:5. In what manner Luke spent the interval is not known. Macknight supposes that it might have been in multiplying copies of his gospel for the use of the churches. Perhaps also he might have been engaged in preaching, and in services like that in the case before us. (2) It seems probable that Luke is the person referred to by the phrase “whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches.” This would be more likely to be applied to one who had written a gospel, or a life of the Redeemer that had been extensively circulated, than to any other person. […]
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| συνεπέμψαμεν | sunepempsamen | We have sent | G4842 → | |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μετ᾽ | met᾽ | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφόν, | adelphon | brother | G80 → | 343 times |
| οὗ | hou | whose | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔπαινος | epainos | praise | G1868 → | |
| ἐν | en | [is] in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγελίῳ | euangelio | gospel | G2098 → | 73 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| πασῶν | pason | all [times] | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκκλησιῶν. | ekklesion | churches. | G1577 → | 113 times |
συνεπέμψαμενWe have sent
sunepempsamenG4842 →
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
μετ᾽with
met᾽G3326 →461 times
αὐτοῦhim
autouG846 →5565 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφόν,brother
adelphonG80 →343 times
οὗwhose
houG3739 →1405 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἔπαινοςpraise
epainosG1868 →
ἐν[is] in
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγελίῳgospel
euangelioG2098 →73 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
πασῶνall [times]
pasonG3956 →1235 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἐκκλησιῶν.churches.
ekklesionG1577 →113 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 7:17Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 4:17
That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach…
- Romans 12:3–8
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure…
- 1 Corinthians 7:24
Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
- 1 Corinthians 7:20–21
Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
- 1 Corinthians 7:18
Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.
- 1 Corinthians 4:17
Through
2 Corinthians 12:18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 8:6
So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.
- 2 Corinthians 8:6
Through
2 Corinthians 8:19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:3–4
Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
- 1 Corinthians 16:3–4
Through
Romans 16:4who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
it leads to
- 1 John 3:16
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
- 1 John 3:16
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 18 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.