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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"With much intreaty." Lo! yet a third and a fourth. "Praying us." Lo! even a fifth. And when they were in affliction and in poverty. Here are a sixth and seventh. And they gave with excessiveness. Then since this is what he most of all wishes to provide for in the Corinthians' case, namely, the giving deliberately, he dwells especially upon it, saying, "with much intreaty," and "praying us." 'We prayed not them, but they us.' Pray us what? …
Theophylact of Ohrid
He explains what was said above and says: "according to their power," even "beyond their power"; for therein consists the abundance of simplicity, that is, in that which is "beyond their power." Moreover, they were not exhorted by us, but were "willing of themselves." And what do I say? They themselves earnestly besought and implored us. He says this in order to move them as well, not so much to generous giving, as to giving with eagerness. With this aim he also dwells on this subject. …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
Thus does he commend their generosity as to the quantity given; but he commends it as to their will to give, when he says, "of their own free will": "Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me an offering; from every man whose heart makes him willing you shall receive the offering for me" (Ex. 25:2). They were willing in the sense that they asked us, begging us earnestly. …
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