Did Titus Make a Gain of You? 2 Corinthians 12:18

Paul the apostle asked the church members in Corinth, “Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?”, and in chapter twelve and verse eighteen of Second Corinthians, Paul asked the church members, “did Titus make a gain of you?” where we read:

I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you?

walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

The verse begins, “I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you?” Paul began with the words, “I desired” or “Paul called to his side, summoned, addressed and spoke to in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort and instruction” “Titus” whose name means “nurse” and was “a Gentile Christian and Paul's companion in some of his journeys”, “and with him” or “alongside Titus” “I sent” or “Paul dispatched in company” “a brother” which refers to “a fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection ”. “Did Titus make a gain” which means “did Titus have more, a greater part or share, act superior, excel, surpass, take advantage of or overreach” “of you” which refers to “the church members”. Paul sent “Titus”, one of his young protege's, along with another “brother” in Christ to the church members in Corinth, and he wanted to know if these men “took advantage” of them.

The verse continues, “walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?” Paul added the words, “walked we not” which means “did not Titus, this other brother and Paul make their way, progress and use of opportunities” “in the same” or “in the selfsame and like” “spirit” which means “simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting”? “walked we not” or “did not Titus, this other brother and Paul make their way, progress and use opportunities” “in the same” which means “in the selfsame and like” “steps” or “footprints, tracks and imitating of the example of anyone”. Paul wanted to know if the church members recognized how he, Titus and this other brother had “the selfsame” “essence” and “example” as they were among them.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how he was not only concerned that he himself was not “making a gain” of the church members, but also “Titus” and this other brother. Paul and his companions did not share with the church in Corinth to “take advantage” of them, and this should be the manner of all ministers who serve Jesus Christ in the church. Jesus gave the gospel “freely”, and it should never once be named that we nor anyone we send on our behalf “make a gain” of those to whom we are sent. May the Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit make this truth known to us, and may we follow in the pattern and example set not only by Him, but also through Paul and his companions.

Next time Paul asks the church members if they thought, “we excuse ourselves unto you?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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