What Does 2 Corinthians 8:18 Mean in the King James?

And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

2 Corinthians 8:18 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The brother’s praise travels with the good message through every assembly, so his recognized witness becomes part of what the gospel makes visible.

THE MEANING

Your witness is visible as the good message moves through the assemblies around you. Praise here is recognition voiced by others when a life becomes known alongside what the gospel announces.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse loosens the belief that recognition must come from promoting yourself; here, praise is carried by a shared witness across the assemblies.

THE ROOT

ἔπαινος

epainos

GROWS FROM

αἰν-

ain-

praise; commendation

The Greek word for praise belongs to a family that also includes the verb for praising. Here commendation belongs within the good message and is echoed through the assemblies, so the message and the brother’s recognized witness travel together.

ALSO GROWS

ainos: praise; commendation

αἶνος

It shares the praise sense carried by the brother’s reputation.

aineō: to praise

αἰνέω

The related verb shows praise as an act of recognition voiced by others.

ἐκκλησιῶν

ekklēsiōn

GROWS FROM

καλέω

kaleō

to call; summon

The word rendered “churches” refers to assemblies, gathered communities. Its connection with the Greek verb for calling brings the praise into view as something recognized among people gathered together, across many communities.

ALSO GROWS

ekklēsia: assembly

ἐκκλησία

This is the singular form behind the plural assemblies named in the verse.

klētos: called; summoned

κλητός

This related word carries the sense of people called together, illuminating the communal setting where the brother’s praise is known.

THE PATTERN

The good message becomes publicly visible through lives that communities recognize and whose witness travels across places.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Proverbs 27:2 · KJVPraise comes from the recognition of others rather than from a person’s own claim.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 · KJVWhat people see in a life makes the Father’s nature visible to them.

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 · KJVA community’s witness carries the message outward until it is known in many places.

THE THREAD

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

1 Corinthians 4:5 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨ἔπαινος⁩ (epainos), meaning praise or commendation: here the brother’s praise is known across the assemblies, while there praise comes from God when hidden counsels are made visible. The shared word opens the question of who sees and commends the heart beneath public recognition.

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