1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah. And she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, `purposing' to kill thee.
And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between thee and me for ever.
`Touching' the Almighty, we cannot find him out He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict.
My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; I speak the things which I have made touching the king: My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake.
beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints: and `this', not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also. But as ye abound in everything, `in' faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and `in' all earnestness, and `in' your love to us, `see' that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich. And herein I give `my' judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will. But now complete the doing also; that as `there was' the readiness to will, so `there may be' the completion also out of your ability. For if the readiness is there, `it is' acceptable according as `a man' hath, not according as `he' hath not. For `I say' not `this' that others may be eased `and' ye distressed; but by equality: your abundance `being a supply' at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become `a supply' for your want; that there may be equality: as it is written, He that `gathered' much had nothing over; and he that `gathered' little had no lack.
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; 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; while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
only `they would' that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.
But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.
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?