3 Yet G1161 have I sent G3992 the brethren, G80 lest G3363 our G2257 boasting G2745 of G5228 you G5216 should be in vain G2758 in G1722 this G5129 behalf; G3313 that, G2443 as G2531 I said, G3004 ye may be G5600 ready: G3903
Insomuch G1519 that we G2248 desired G3870 Titus, G5103 that G2443 as G2531 he had begun, G4278 so G3779 he would G2005 also G2532 finish G2005 in G1519 you G5209 the same G5026 grace G5485 also. G2532
Now G1161 concerning G4012 the collection G3048 for G1519 the saints, G40 as G5618 I have given order G1299 to the churches G1577 of Galatia, G1053 even G2532 so G3779 do G4160 ye. G5210 Upon G2596 the first G3391 day of the week G4521 let G5087 every one G1538 of you G5216 lay G5087 by G3844 him G1438 in store, G2343 as G3748 G302 God hath prospered him, G2137 that G3363 there be G1096 no G3363 gatherings G3048 G5119 when G3752 I come. G2064 And G1161 when G3752 I come, G3854 whomsoever G3739 G1437 ye shall approve G1381 by G1223 your letters, G1992 them G5128 will I send G3992 to bring G667 your G5216 liberality G5485 unto G1519 Jerusalem. G2419 And G1161 if G1437 it be G5600 meet G514 that I go G4198 also, G2504 they shall go G4198 with G4862 me. G1698
For G3754 if I have boasted G2744 any thing G1536 to him G846 of G5228 you, G5216 I am G2617 not G3756 ashamed; G2617 but G235 as G5613 we spake G2980 all things G3956 to you G5213 in G1722 truth, G225 even G2532 so G3779 our G2257 boasting, G2746 which G3588 I made before G1909 Titus, G5103 is found G1096 a truth. G225
For G3754 indeed G3303 he accepted G1209 the exhortation; G3874 but G1161 being G5225 more forward, G4707 of his own accord G830 he went G1831 unto G4314 you. G5209 And G1161 we have sent G4842 with G3326 him G846 the brother, G80 whose G3739 praise G1868 is in G1722 the gospel G2098 throughout G1223 all G3956 the churches; G1577 And G1161 not G3756 that only, G3440 but G235 who was G5500 also G2532 chosen G5500 of G5259 the churches G1577 to travel G4898 with us G2257 with G4862 this G5026 grace, G5485 which G3588 is administered G1247 by G5259 us G2257 to G4314 the glory G1391 of the same G846 Lord, G2962 and G2532 declaration of your G5216 ready mind: G4288 Avoiding G4724 this, G5124 that no G3361 man G5100 should blame G3469 us G2248 in G1722 this G5026 abundance G100 which G3588 is administered G1247 by G5259 us: G2257 Providing G4306 for honest things, G2570 not G3756 only G3440 in the sight G1799 of the Lord, G2962 but G235 also G2532 in the sight G1799 of men. G444 And G1161 we have sent G4842 with them G846 our G2257 brother, G80 whom G3739 we have G1381 oftentimes G4178 proved G1381 G5607 diligent G4705 in G1722 many things, G4183 but G1161 now G3570 much G4183 more diligent, G4707 upon the great G4183 confidence G4006 which G3588 I have in G1519 you. G5209 Whether G1535 any do enquire of G5228 Titus, G5103 he is my G1699 partner G2844 and G2532 fellowhelper G4904 concerning G1519 you: G5209 or G1535 our G2257 brethren G80 be enquired of, they are the messengers G652 of the churches, G1577 and the glory G1391 of Christ. G5547 Wherefore G3767 shew ye G1731 to G1519 them, G846 and G2532 before G1519 G4383 the churches, G1577 the proof G1732 of your G5216 love, G26 and G2532 of our G2257 boasting G2746 on G5228 your G5216 behalf. G5228
Lest G3381 haply G4458 if G1437 they of Macedonia G3110 come G2064 with G4862 me, G1698 and G2532 find G2147 you G5209 unprepared, G532 we G2249 (that G3363 we say G3004 not, G3363 ye) G5210 should be ashamed G2617 in G1722 this same G5026 confident G5287 boasting. G2746 Therefore G3767 I thought G2233 it necessary G316 to exhort G3870 the brethren, G80 that G2443 they would go before G4281 unto G1519 you, G5209 and G2532 make up beforehand G4294 your G5216 bounty, G2129 whereof ye had notice before, G4293 that the same G5026 might be G1511 ready, G2092 G3779 as G5613 a matter of bounty, G2129 and G2532 not G3361 as G5618 of covetousness. G4124
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 9
2Co 9:1-15. Reasons for His Sending Titus. The Greater Their Bountifulness, the More Shall Be the Return of Blessing to Them, and Thanksgiving to God.
1. For—connected with 2Co 8:16: "Show love to the messengers of the churches; for as concerns the ministration for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you who are so forward already."
write—emphatical: It is superfluous to "write," for you will have witnesses present [Bengel].
2. ready a year ago—to send off the money, owing to the apostle's former exhortation (1Co 16:1, 2).
your zeal—Greek, "the zeal from you," that is, on your part; propagated from you to others.
provoked—that is, stimulated.
very many—Greek, "the greater number," namely, of the Macedonians.
3. have I sent—we should say, "I send"; whereas the ancients put it in the past, the time which it would be by the time that the letter arrived.
the brethren—(2Co 8:18, 22)—Titus and the two others.
should be in vain in this behalf—"should be proved futile in this particular," however true in general (2Co 7:4). A tacit compliment, softening the sharp monition.
as I said—as I was saying (2Co 9:2).
4. if they of Macedonia—rather as Greek, "if Macedonians."
unprepared—with your collection; see 2Co 9:2, "ready," Greek, "prepared."
we, not to say ye—Ye would naturally feel more ashamed for yourselves, than we (who boasted of you) would for you.
confident boasting—The oldest manuscripts read simply "confidence," namely, in your liberality.
5. that they would go before—Translate, "that they should," &c.
whereof ye had notice before—rather, "promised before"; "long announced by me to the Macedonians" (2Co 9:2) [Bengel]. "Your promised bounty" [Ellicott and others].
not as of covetousness—Translate, "not as matter of covetousness," which it would be, if you gave niggardly.
6. I say—Ellicott and others supply the ellipsis thus: "But remember this."
bountifully—literally, "with," or "in blessings." The word itself implies a beneficent spirit in the giver (compare 2Co 9:7, end), and the plural implies the abundance and liberality of the gifts. "The reaping shall correspond to the proportions and spirit of the sowing" [Bengel]. Compare Eze 34:26, "Showers of blessing."
7. according as he purposeth in his heart—Let the full consent of the free will go with the gift [Alford]. Opposed to "of necessity," as "grudgingly" is opposed to "a cheerful giver" (Pr 22:9; 11:25; Isa 32:8).
8. all grace—even in external goods, and even while ye bestow on others [Bengel].
that—"in order that." God's gifts are bestowed on us, not that we may have them to ourselves, but that we may the more "abound in good works" to others.
sufficiency—so as not to need the help of others, having yourselves from God "bread for your food" (2Co 9:10).
in all things—Greek, "in everything."
every good work—of charity to others, which will be "your seed sown" (2Co 9:10).
9. As it is written—realizing the highly blessed character portrayed in Ps 112:9.
He—the "good man" (Ps 112:5).
dispersed—as seed sown with full and open hand, without anxious thought in what direction each grain may fall. It is implied also that he has always what he may disperse [Bengel]. So in Ps 112:9.
the poor—The Greek word is found here only in New Testament, "one in straitened circumstances, who earns his bread by labor." The word usually employed means "one so poor as to live by begging."
his righteousness—Here "beneficence": the evidence of his being righteous before God and man. Compare De 24:13; Mt 6:1, "alms"; Greek, "righteousness."
remaineth—unexhausted and unfailing.
10. Translate, as in Isa 55:10, "He that ministereth (supplieth) seed to the sower and bread for food" (literally, "bread for eating").
minister—rather future, as the oldest manuscripts, "Shall minister (supply) and multiply."
your seed—your means for liberality.
the fruits of your righteousness—the heavenly rewards for your Christian charity (Mt 10:42). Righteousness shall be itself the reward, even as it is the thing rewarded (Ho 10:12; Mt 5:6; 6:33).
11. Compare 2Co 9:8.
bountifulness—Greek, "single-minded liberality." Translated "simplicity," Ro 12:8.
causeth through us—literally, "worketh through us"; that is, through our instrumentality as the distributors.
thanksgiving—on the part of the recipients.
12. Greek, "The ministration of this public service (on your part) is not only still further supplying the wants of the saints (besides the supplies from other quarters), but is abounding also (namely, in respect to relieving the necessities of others in poverty) through many thanksgivings to God."
13. by—through occasion of.
experiment—Translate, "the experience" [Ellicott and others]. Or, "the experimental proof" of your Christian character, afforded by "this ministration."
they—the recipients.
for your professed subjection—Greek, "for the subjection of your profession"; that is, your subjection in accordance with your profession, in relation to the Gospel. Ye yield yourselves in willing subjection to the Gospel precepts, evinced in acts, as well as in profession.
your liberal distribution—Greek, "the liberality of your contribution in relation to them," &c.
14. Translate, "Themselves also with prayer for you, longing after you on account of the exceeding grace of God (resting) upon you." English Version is, however, good sense: They glorify God (2Co 9:13) by the experimental proof, &c., "and by their prayer for you." But the Greek favors the former.
15. his unspeakable gift—the gift of His own Son, which includes all other inferior gifts (2Co 8:9; Ro 8:32). If we have received from God "His unspeakable gift," what great thing is it, if we give a few perishing gifts for His sake?