English · KJV

2 Corinthians 9

Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

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 the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. ​
3
Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: ​
4
Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. ​
5
Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. ​

The Blessings of Sowing Bountifully 6–11

6
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ​
7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. ​
8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: ​
9
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. ​
10
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) ​
11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

The Fruit of Generous Ministry 12–15

12
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; ​
13
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; ​
14
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. ​
15
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · 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.