Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 8:22

"and we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which [he hath] in you." — 2 Corinthians 8:22 (ASV)

The second anonymous representative who would travel to Corinth with Titus is identified simply as “our brother,” i.e, a brother in Christ . On many previous occasions Paul had proved this man’s zeal, which in the present matter was all the greater “because of his great confidence” that this mission to Corinth would prove highly successful.

Why are the two “brothers” who would accompany Titus not identified?

Either because both would be personally introduced by Titus when the present letter was first read at Corinth, or because both delegates, as renowned appointees of the Macedonian churches, were already well known at Corinth.

Why were three delegates chosen?

Evidently Paul was more susceptible to misrepresentation at Corinth than in most of the other churches he had founded, so added precautions were necessary. To have sent one personal representative would have been to lay himself open to slanderous gossip (cf. 12:16–18), while two independent envoys would be able to testify to his honest intentions and conduct (cf. Dt 17:6; 19:15). Furthermore, it is not impossible that Paul wished to exert subtle pressure on the Corinthians (cf. 9:4), knowing as he did the somewhat erratic progress of the collection at Corinth thus far, the propensity of the Corinthians for disorderliness (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40), and the disturbing effect of the parasitical intruders from Palestine.