Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Corinthians 8:23

"Whether [any inquire] about Titus, [he is] my partner and [my] fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, [they are] the messengers of the churches, [they are] the glory of Christ." — 2 Corinthians 8:23 (ASV)

Whether any inquire about Titus.—There is no verb in the Greek, and its insertion is not required for the English. Our common phrase, As to Titus...as to our brothers, exactly expresses St. Paul’s meaning.

In the “messengers” of the churches, we find in the Greek the word “Apostles” used in a lower sense (the Greek has no article), as in Philippians 2:25 and possibly Romans 16:7. Here, it means “delegates of the churches,” just as the Twelve and Paul and Barnabas were delegates of Christ.

The other epithet—“the glory of Christ”—is an unusual one. To say that they were working only to that glory, though true, seems hardly adequate, and we gain a deeper thought by connecting it with the language of 2 Corinthians 3:18.

“These messengers,” he says, “are like Christ in character: they reflect His glory. You may see that glory in them.”