John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 8:16

"But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus." — 2 Corinthians 8:16 (ASV)

But thanks be to God who hath put. So that he might leave the Corinthians without excuse, he now finally adds that active prompters had been provided for them, who would attend to the matter. And, in the first place, he names Titus, who, he says, had been divinely raised up.

This was of great importance in this case. For his mission would be all the more successful if the Corinthians recognized that he had come to them because he had been stirred up to it by God.

From this passage, however, as from innumerable others, we infer that there are no pious affections that do not proceed from the Spirit of God; and furthermore, that this is an evidence of God’s concern for His people, that He raises up ministers and guardians to endeavor to relieve their needs.

But if the providence of God shows itself in this way, in providing nourishment for the body, how much greater care will He exercise for spiritual nourishment, so that His people may not lack it! Hence, it is His special and peculiar work to raise up pastors.

His receiving the exhortation means that he had undertaken this business because he was exhorted to it by Paul. He afterwards corrects this by saying that Titus had not been so much influenced by the advice of others as he had felt stirred up of his own accord, in accordance with his active disposition.