“With them,

We are sending

Our brother

Whom we have often tested

And found eager

In many matters,

But now is more eager

Than ever

Because of his great confidence

In you.”

συνεπέμψαμεν δὲ αὐτοῖς τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν, ὃν ἐδοκιμάσαμεν ἐν πολλοῖς πολλάκις σπουδαῖον ὄντα, νυνὶ δὲ πολὺ σπουδαιότερον πεποιθήσει πολλῇ τῇ εἰς ὑμᾶς.

Paul said that with them, we are sending our brother (συνεπέμψαμεν δὲ αὐτοῖς τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν) whom we have often tested (ὃν ἐδοκιμάσαμεν) and found eager in many matters (ἐν πολλοῖς πολλάκις σπουδαῖον ὄντα), but now is more eager (νυνὶ δὲ πολὺ σπουδαιότερον) than ever because of his great confidence in you (πεποιθήσει πολλῇ τῇ εἰς ὑμᾶς).  Only this Corinthian letter used this word συνεπέμψαμεν, that means to send with or together with, and the word σπουδαιότερον and the word σπουδαῖον, that means hasty, eager, diligent, earnest, or zealous.  Only the Pauline letters used this word πεποιθήσει, that means confidence, trust, or reliance.  Paul indicated that there was another unidentified brother whom he had often tested.  He too was eager in most matters.  Now he was also interested to go to the Corinthians because he had great confidence in them.  Thus, Paul was sending a prestigious group of early Christians to the Corinthians to take up this collection for the Jerusalem Jewish-Christians.  Have you ever met a distinguished group of Christians?

“Such is the confidence

That we have

Through Christ

Toward God.”

Πεποίθησιν δὲ τοιαύτην ἔχομεν διὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν.

Paul said that such is the confidence (Πεποίθησιν) that we have (δὲ τοιαύτην ἔχομεν) through Christ (διὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ) toward God (πρὸς τὸν Θεόν).  Only the Pauline letters used this word Πεποίθησιν, that means confidence, trust, or reliance.  Paul placed all his confidence in Jesus Christ, God.  Paul did not have confidence in himself.  He relied on Jesus, our Lord God.  Do you place your confidence in Jesus Christ?