| Geneva Study Bible {3} I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the {e} forwardness of others, and to prove the {f} sincerity of your love. (3) Thirdly, he warns them to live up to the expectation which Paul and his companions have conceived of them. (e) At the request of the Macedonians. (f) The naturalness of our love appears when we truly, and that frankly and freely, help our brethren even for Christ's sake. People's New Testament 8:8 I speak not by commandment. He levies no tax by command. The giving must be free and cheerful in order to be blessed. He encourages them by occasion of the forwardness of others, the example of the Macedonian brethren, and by that of Christ. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 8. not by commandment-"not by way of commandment." but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and &c.-rather, "But by (mention of) the forwardness of others (as an inducement to you), and to prove (literally, 'proving') the sincerity of your love." The Greek is "by means of," not "on account of the forwardness," &c. Bengel, Ellicott, and others translate, "By means of the forwardness of others, proving the sincerity of your love ALSO." The former is the simpler construction in the Greek. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 8:7-9 Faith is the root; and as without faith it is not possible to please God, Heb 11:6, so those who abound in faith, will abound in other graces and good works also; and this will work and show itself by love. Great talkers are not always the best doers; but these Corinthians were diligent to do, as well as to know and talk well. To all these good things the apostle desires them to add this grace also, to abound in charity to the poor. The best arguments for Christian duties, are drawn from the grace and love of Christ. Though he was rich, as being God, equal in power and glory with the Father, yet he not only became man for us, but became poor also. At length he emptied himself, as it were, to ransom their souls by his sacrifice on the cross. From what riches, blessed Lord, to what poverty didst thou descend for our sakes! and to what riches hast thou advanced us through thy poverty! It is our happiness to be wholly at thy disposal. | 
