2 Corinthians 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)

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?