2 Corinthians 8:24

Paul is urging the Corinthians to demonstrate their love by the way they treat those he is sending to them. If they received them with honor, they would be demonstrating to all the other churches how far they had progressed and that the good things which were said about them were true. He is therefore encouraging their resolve, for someone who is well thought of usually shows improvement.

"Wherefore show ye unto them, to the person of the churches, the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf." 'Now show,' he saith, 'how ye love us; and how we do not lightly nor vainly boast in you: and this ye will show, if ye show forth love towards them.' Then he also makes his words more solemn, by saying, "unto the person of the churches." He means, to the glory, the honor, of the churches. 'For if ye honor them, ye have honored the churches that sent them. For the honor passeth not to them alone, but also to those that sent them forth, who ordained them, and more than these, unto the glory of God.' For when we honor those that minister to Him, the kind reception passeth unto Him, unto the common body of the churches. Now this too is no light thing, for great is the potency of that assembly.

Now, he says, show how you love us and how we do not boast of you in vain. And you will show this if you show them love. For what you do for them, you do "before the face of the churches," that is, for the honor of the churches; for they represent the face of the churches that sent them.

Then when he says, "so give proof," he recommends those messengers to the Corinthians, saying: because I have sent such men to you, "so give proof, before the churches, of your love and of our boasting about you to these men," i.e., show by your deeds that you have charity toward them, and that he has truthfully commended you, and that he was right in boasting about you, before the churches, where I have been and to whom I have preached; or: before the churches, because what you do to them will be made known to all the churches.