2 Corinthians 9:12

KJV

For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G3754} the administration {G1248} of this {G5026} service {G3009} not {G3756} only {G3440} supplieth {G2076}{G4322} the want {G5303} of the saints {G40}, but {G235} is abundant {G4052} also {G2532} by {G1223} many {G4183} thanksgivings {G2169} unto God {G2316};

Complete Jewish Bible

because rendering this holy service not only provides for the needs of God’s people, but it also overflows in the many thanks people will be giving to God.

Berean Standard Bible

For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

American Standard Version

For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The Apostle Paul concludes his extensive teaching on Christian generosity by highlighting the profound dual impact of the Corinthian contribution for the Jerusalem saints. This act of service not only effectively meets the pressing material needs of fellow believers, alleviating their poverty, but it also generates an overflowing cascade of gratitude and praise directed towards God from all who witness and benefit from this tangible expression of divine love and provision.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a powerful summary statement, concluding Paul's detailed exhortation on Christian giving found in [2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9](/2_corinthians/8 "Paul's Teaching on Generosity"). Throughout these chapters, Paul has been encouraging the Corinthian church to complete their promised collection for the impoverished Jewish believers in Jerusalem. He uses the example of the Macedonian churches' sacrificial giving ([2 Corinthians 8:1-5](/2_corinthians/8-1-5 "The Generosity of the Macedonian Churches")), emphasizes the principle of cheerful and bountiful sowing ([2 Corinthians 9:6-7](/2_corinthians/9-6-7 "Sowing Bountifully")), and assures them of God's abundant provision for their generosity ([2 Corinthians 9:8-11](/2_corinthians/9-8-11 "God's Abundant Provision for Givers")). [2 Corinthians 9:12](/2_corinthians/9-12 "The Dual Impact of Christian Service") encapsulates the spiritual and practical outcomes of such faithful stewardship, demonstrating that giving is far more than a financial transaction; it is a spiritual ministry that yields profound spiritual fruit.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The collection for Jerusalem was a significant undertaking in the early church, reflecting both a practical necessity and a profound theological statement. Jewish Christians in Jerusalem faced severe economic hardship, likely due to famine (cf. [Acts 11:27-30](/acts/11-27-30 "Famine Relief in Judea")) and ongoing persecution, which could lead to confiscation of property. Paul's initiative to gather funds from predominantly Gentile churches (like Corinth) for Jewish believers in the spiritual "mother church" was revolutionary. It demonstrated the practical outworking of Jew-Gentile unity in Christ, breaking down long-standing ethnic and cultural barriers. In the Greco-Roman world, *leitourgia* (the Greek word for "service" or "ministration" in this context) often referred to public service performed by a wealthy citizen for the benefit of the community, sometimes at their own expense. Paul elevates this concept, applying it to Christian benevolence, thereby imbuing the act of giving with sacred, spiritual significance as a service rendered to God and His people.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully reinforces several key themes prevalent in Paul's teaching on generosity. Firstly, it underscores the **dual impact of Christian generosity**, showing that it simultaneously addresses tangible material needs and produces intangible spiritual blessings, primarily in the form of thanksgiving to God. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **divine provision through human partnership**, illustrating how God sovereignly meets the needs of His people by working through the obedient and loving actions of other believers. This aligns with Paul's assurance that "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" ([2 Corinthians 9:8](/2_corinthians/9-8 "God's Grace for Generosity")). Thirdly, the verse emphasizes the **fostering of gratitude and worship**. The ultimate purpose and result of this "service" is not merely the relief of poverty, but the glorification of God as recipients and witnesses acknowledge His faithfulness and goodness, prompting a chorus of praise and thanksgiving. This spiritual return on investment is central to Paul's argument that giving is an act of worship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **administration (Greek, _diakonía'_):** From G1248, this term signifies "attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service." Here, it refers to the practical, organized effort of collecting and distributing the financial aid. It emphasizes the active, servant-hearted role of those facilitating the gift, elevating the task from mere logistics to a sacred ministry.
* **supplieth (Greek, _prosanaplēróō'_):** From G4322, this compound verb means "to fill up further, i.e., furnish fully." It conveys the idea of completely making up for what is lacking, going beyond mere supplementation to fully meet the need. This word assures the Corinthians that their contribution is not just a token gesture but will genuinely and effectively alleviate the "want" or poverty of the saints in Jerusalem.
* **thanksgivings (Greek, _eucharistía'_):** From G2169, this word denotes "gratitude; actively, grateful language (to God, as an act of worship)." This is a crucial outcome of the "service." It signifies not just a feeling of thankfulness, but its active expression, specifically directed towards God. The "many thanksgivings" highlight the abundance of praise and worship that arises from this act of Christian generosity, demonstrating its profound spiritual impact.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the administration of this service":** This phrase introduces the reason for Paul's preceding exhortation and describes the organized effort of collecting and delivering the financial aid. The "service" (Greek: *leitourgia*, G3009) refers to this specific act of public, sacred ministry—the collection itself. The "administration" (Greek: *diakonia*, G1248) speaks to the practical management and execution of this ministry. Paul frames their giving not as a burdensome obligation, but as a privileged and purposeful act of service.
* **"not only supplieth the want of the saints,":** This clause highlights the immediate and tangible benefit of their generosity. The collection directly addresses and "supplieth" (fully furnishes) the "want" (poverty, deficit, G5303 *hystérēma*) of the Jewish believers ("saints," G40 *hágios*) in Jerusalem. It emphasizes the practical, humanitarian impact of their gift, meeting urgent material needs.
* **"but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;":** This second clause reveals the equally, if not more, significant spiritual outcome. The "service" does not merely meet physical needs; it also overflows ("is abundant," G4052 *perisseúō*) in spiritual praise. The phrase "by many thanksgivings" (G4183 *polýs* and G2169 *eucharistía*) underscores the profusion of gratitude and worship that is directed to God as a direct result of the Corinthians' generosity. This demonstrates that Christian giving has a profound vertical dimension, leading people to glorify God.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs **Parallelism** in this verse through the "not only...but also" construction. This rhetorical device effectively emphasizes the dual and equally important outcomes of the Corinthians' generosity: the practical relief of material need and the spiritual outpouring of thanksgiving to God. This structure elevates the spiritual benefit to be on par with, if not surpassing, the material one. The use of **Metonymy** is also present, where "the administration of this service" stands in for the entire act of collection and distribution of the financial gift. Furthermore, the phrase "many thanksgivings" could be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, not in the sense of exaggeration, but to convey the overwhelming and abundant nature of the praise that will result, underscoring the profound spiritual impact of their benevolent act.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the interconnectedness of the Christian community and the multi-faceted nature of true worship. Christian generosity is portrayed not merely as an act of charity, but as a vital spiritual service that yields both material and spiritual fruit. It underscores the truth that God often chooses to meet the needs of His people through the willing hands of other believers, thereby fostering unity, demonstrating His faithfulness, and ultimately bringing glory to His name. This cycle of giving, receiving, and thanksgiving strengthens the bonds within the body of Christ and serves as a powerful testimony to the watching world. The material aid becomes a conduit for spiritual blessing, transforming acts of benevolence into opportunities for divine praise.

* [Philippians 4:18-19](/philippians/4-18-19 "God Supplies All Your Needs")
* [Hebrews 13:16](/hebrews/13-16 "Do Not Neglect to Do Good and to Share")
* [Matthew 25:34-40](/matthew/25-34-40 "The Sheep and the Goats")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[2 Corinthians 9:12](/2_corinthians/9-12 "The Dual Impact of Christian Service") offers a timeless paradigm for Christian living and giving. It challenges believers to view their acts of generosity—whether financial, relational, or vocational—not as mere obligations or transactions, but as sacred "service" that carries profound spiritual weight. When we meet the needs of others, we are not simply providing temporary relief; we are participating in God's work of provision, demonstrating His love, and creating opportunities for His name to be glorified. This verse encourages us to give with a consciousness of its dual impact: alleviating suffering and eliciting praise to God. It reminds us that our giving is a tangible expression of our faith, a testament to God's faithfulness, and a catalyst for worship, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of blessing and gratitude within the global body of Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding Christian giving as a "service" (ministry) change your perspective on generosity?**
* **In what ways have you experienced or witnessed the "dual impact" of generosity—both meeting a need and generating thanksgiving to God?**
* **How can your personal acts of giving be more intentionally focused on bringing glory and "many thanksgivings unto God"?**

### FAQ

**What is "this service" referring to in 2 Corinthians 9:12?**

Answer: "This service" (Greek: *leitourgia* and *diakonia*) refers specifically to the financial collection that Paul was organizing among the Gentile churches, like the one in Corinth, for the impoverished Jewish believers in Jerusalem. It was a tangible act of material support intended to alleviate their physical "want" or poverty. However, Paul elevates this act beyond mere charity, presenting it as a sacred "ministry" or "public service" rendered to God and His people, demonstrating the unity and love within the early Christian community. This collection is the central theme of [2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9](/2_corinthians/8 "Paul's Teaching on Generosity").

**Why is "thanksgiving" emphasized so much as an outcome of this service?**

Answer: The emphasis on "many thanksgivings unto God" highlights the profound spiritual dimension and ultimate purpose of Christian generosity. While meeting physical needs is crucial, Paul consistently points to the spiritual fruit that results. When believers' needs are met through the sacrificial giving of others, it serves as a powerful testimony to God's faithfulness, love, and provision. This recognition prompts the recipients, and indeed all who witness the generosity, to offer praise and gratitude directly to God. Thus, the act of giving becomes a catalyst for worship, demonstrating that God is glorified not only by the act of giving itself but also by the grateful response it elicits, as seen in passages like [2 Corinthians 9:13-14](/2_corinthians/9-13-14 "The Glorification of God through Generosity").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The dual impact of the Corinthian "service" in [2 Corinthians 9:12](/2_corinthians/9-12 "The Dual Impact of Christian Service") finds its ultimate fulfillment and paradigm in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the supreme example of one who "supplieth the want of the saints" not merely in material terms, but by addressing humanity's ultimate spiritual poverty and need for salvation. Christ's sacrificial life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate act of "administration of this service," a divine *leitourgia* that fully furnishes what was lacking in humanity's relationship with God, as illuminated in [Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Christ's Humility and Obedience"). His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice on the cross not only meet our deepest spiritual "want" by reconciling us to God ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "God Demonstrates His Love")), but they also elicit the most profound and eternal "thanksgivings unto God" from all who receive His grace. The entire New Testament church, redeemed by His blood, is a community characterized by constant thanksgiving for the "indescribable gift" of Christ ([2 Corinthians 9:15](/2_corinthians/9-15 "Thanks Be to God for His Indescribable Gift")). Thus, every act of Christian generosity, especially one that meets needs and generates praise, is a participation in and reflection of the greater, all-sufficient "service" of Christ, who gave Himself completely so that God might be eternally glorified.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Corinthians 8:14

But by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for your want: that there may be equality:

2 Corinthians 8:15

As it is written, He that [had gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [had gathered] little had no lack.

Philemon 1:4

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

Philemon 1:7

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Philippians 2:25

Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

1 John 3:17

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

2 Corinthians 8:4

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.