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2 Corinthians 9

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Preparation for the Collection 1–5

1
For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: ​
2
for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them. ​
3
But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared: ​
4
lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence. ​
5
I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion. ​

The Blessings of Sowing Bountifully 6–11

6
But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ​
7
Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. ​
8
And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work: ​
9
as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever. ​
10
And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: ​
11
ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.

The Fruit of Generous Ministry 12–15

12
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; ​
13
seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all; ​
14
while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. ​
15
Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for 2 Corinthians 9

Verse 1

the ministering to the saints — Diakonia, service, the word that returns as 'administration' in v.12. The saints are those at Jerusalem, for whom Macedonia and Achaia 'make a certain contribution for the poor saints' (Rom 15:25–26; 1 Cor 16:1–3). Perissos, 'superfluous', is what goes beyond what is needed: Paul has already written of it in chapter 8.

Verse 2

the forwardness of your mind — Prothumia, readiness of mind, the word of 8:11–12, 19. The Corinthians had begun 'a year ago' (8:10), and Paul told the Macedonians. 'Provoked' is erethizo, to stir up; elsewhere it is used of fathers who must not 'provoke' their children (Col 3:21). The Macedonians' own giving is described in 8:1–4.

Verse 3

ye may be ready — The verb paraskeuazo, to make ready, is the one used of Achaia in v.2. 'In vain' is kenoo, to empty, the verb of Phil 2:7, 'made himself of no reputation'. Paul's boast of the Corinthians must not be emptied of its content. The brethren sent are those named in 8:16–24, with Titus.

Verse 4

confident boasting — Hupostasis, a standing under, a foundation, the word translated 'substance' in Heb 11:1 and 'confidence' in Heb 3:14. 'Unprepared' (aparaskeuastos) occurs only here, the opposite of the readiness of v.3. Paul adds in parenthesis that the shame would fall on the Corinthians too: 'we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed'.

Verse 5

as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness — 'Bounty' is eulogia, blessing, the word of 'the blessing of the gospel of Christ' (Rom 15:29). 'Covetousness' (pleonexia) is the wish for more. A gift made ready beforehand is a blessing given, not a sum gathered at the last moment when Paul arrives with the Macedonians.

Verse 6

soweth sparingly — 'Sparingly' is used twice in this verse. 'Bountifully' is literally 'on blessings' (ep' eulogiais), the word of v.5. The saying echoes the proverb, 'There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth' (Prov 11:24), and Paul closes the same figure in Gal 6:9: 'in due season we shall reap, if we faint not'.

Verse 7

a cheerful giver — 'Purposeth' (proaireomai) and 'cheerful' (hilaros) each occur only here in the New Testament. 'Grudgingly' is literally 'out of grief' (ek lupes), and 'of necessity' is out of compulsion. The giving is measured by the heart, as in 8:12: 'it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not'.

Verse 8

all sufficiency in all things — The verse has 'all' three times and 'every' once, all one Greek word, and 'abound' twice (perisseuo). 'Sufficiency' is autarkeia, which occurs elsewhere only in 1 Tim 6:6, 'godliness with contentment'. The purpose clause names where the abundance goes: 'to every good work', and the grace that is made to abound is God's.

Verse 9

He hath dispersed abroad — A quotation of Ps 112:9: 'He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever.' 'Dispersed' is skorpizo, to scatter, used elsewhere of scattering a flock (John 10:12). It matches Prov 11:24, 'There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth', and the righteousness of the giver is said to 'remain'.

Verse 10

ministereth seed to the sower — The words echo Isa 55:10, where the rain makes the earth 'give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater'. 'Ministereth' and 'minister' (epichoregeo, chorego) are the verbs of supplying. 'The fruits of your righteousness' resembles Hos 10:12, 'Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy'.

Verse 12

the administration of this service — 'Administration' is diakonia as in v.1; 'service' is leitourgia, the word of Zacharias's 'ministration' in the temple (Luke 1:23) and Paul's own 'service of your faith' (Phil 2:17). The gift 'supplieth the want' (husterema) of the saints and overflows ('abundant', as in v.8) in many 'thanksgivings unto God'.

Verse 13

the experiment of this ministration — 'Experiment' is dokime, a proving; the same word is the 'trial' of 8:2. 'Professed subjection' is literally the subjection of 'your confession' (homologia) of the gospel. 'Liberal distribution' is koinonia, fellowship, the word of 8:4 and of Rom 15:26, 'a certain contribution'.

Verse 14

which long after you — Epipotheo, to yearn for. The saints at Jerusalem pray for the Corinthians and long for them 'for the exceeding grace of God in you'. This is the return Paul names in Rom 15:27: 'if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things'.

Verse 15

his unspeakable gift — Anekdiegetos, not to be told in full, occurs only here. 'Gift' (dorea) is the word of 'the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ' (Rom 5:15) and of 'the gift of God' in John 4:10. 'Thanks' is charis, grace, the word of vv.8 and 14.