1 For G1063 as G3303 touching G4012 the ministering G1248 to G1519 the saints, G40 it is G2076 superfluous G4053 for me G3427 to write G1125 to you: G5213
And these words H1697 of Esau H6215 her elder H1419 son H1121 were told H5046 to Rebekah: H7259 and she sent H7971 and called H7121 Jacob H3290 her younger H6996 son, H1121 and said H559 unto him, Behold, thy brother H251 Esau, H6215 as touching thee, doth comfort H5162 himself, purposing to kill H2026 thee.
Touching the Almighty, H7706 we cannot find him out: H4672 he is excellent H7689 in power, H3581 and in judgment, H4941 and in plenty H7230 of justice: H6666 he will not afflict. H6031
[[To the chief Musician H5329 upon Shoshannim, H7799 for the sons H1121 of Korah, H7141 Maschil, H4905 A Song H7892 of loves.]] H3039 My heart H3820 is inditing H7370 a good H2896 matter: H1697 I speak H559 of the things which I have made H4639 touching the king: H4428 my tongue H3956 is the pen H5842 of a ready H4106 writer. H5608
As concerning G2596 G3303 the gospel, G2098 they are enemies G2190 for your sakes: G1223 G5209 but G1161 as touching G2596 the election, G1589 they are beloved G27 for G1223 the fathers' G3962 sakes. G1223
Praying G1189 us G2257 with G3326 much G4183 intreaty G3874 that we G2248 would receive G1209 the gift, G5485 and G2532 take upon us the fellowship G2842 of the ministering G1248 to G1519 the saints. G40 And G2532 this they did, not G3756 as G2531 we hoped, G1679 but G235 first G4412 gave G1325 their own selves G1438 to the Lord, G2962 and G2532 unto us G2254 by G1223 the will G2307 of God. G2316 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 Therefore, G235 as G5618 ye abound G4052 in G1722 every G3956 thing, in faith, G4102 and G2532 utterance, G3056 and G2532 knowledge, G1108 and G2532 in all G3956 diligence, G4710 and G2532 in your G5216 love G26 G1537 to G1722 us, G2254 see that G2443 ye abound G4052 in G1722 this G5026 grace G5485 also. G2532 I speak G3004 not G3756 by G2596 commandment, G2003 but G235 by occasion G1223 of the forwardness G4710 of others, G2087 and G2532 to prove G1381 the sincerity G1103 of your G5212 love. G26 For G1063 ye know G1097 the grace G5485 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 that, G3754 though he was G5607 rich, G4145 yet for G1223 your G5209 sakes G1223 he became poor, G4433 that G2443 ye G5210 through his G1565 poverty G4432 might be rich. G4147 And G2532 herein G1722 G5129 I give G1325 my advice: G1106 for G1063 this G5124 is expedient G4851 for you, G5213 who G3748 have begun before, G4278 not G3756 only G3440 to do, G4160 but G235 also G2532 to be forward G2309 a year G4070 ago. G575 Now G3570 G1161 therefore G2532 perform G2005 the doing G4160 of it; that G3704 as G2509 there was a readiness G4288 to will, G2309 so G3779 there may be a performance G2005 also G2532 out of G1537 that which ye have. G2192 For G1063 if there G1487 be first G4295 a willing mind, G4288 it is accepted G2144 according to G2526 that G1437 a man G5100 hath, G2192 and not G3756 according to that G2526 he hath G2192 not. G3756 For G1063 I mean not G3756 that G2443 other men G243 be eased, G425 and G1161 ye G5213 burdened: G2347 But G235 by G1537 an equality, G2471 that now G3568 at G1722 this time G2540 your G5216 abundance G4051 may be a supply for G1519 their G1565 want, G5303 that G2443 their G1565 abundance G4051 also G2532 may be G1096 a supply for G1519 your G5216 want: G5303 that G3704 there may be G1096 equality: G2471 As G2531 it is written, G1125 He that had gathered G3588 much G4183 had G4121 nothing G3756 over; G4121 and G2532 he that had gathered G3588 little G3641 had G1641 no G3756 lack. G1641
For G3754 the administration G1248 of this G5026 service G3009 not G3756 only G3440 supplieth G2076 G4322 the want G5303 of the saints, G40 but G235 is abundant G4052 also G2532 by G1223 many G4183 thanksgivings G2169 unto God; G2316 Whiles by G1223 the experiment G1382 of this G5026 ministration G1248 they glorify G1392 God G2316 for G1909 your G5216 professed G3671 subjection G5292 unto G1519 the gospel G2098 of Christ, G5547 and G2532 for your liberal G572 distribution G2842 unto G1519 them, G846 and G2532 unto G1519 all G3956 men; And G2532 by their G846 prayer G1162 for G5228 you, G5216 which long after G1971 you G5209 for G1223 the exceeding G5235 grace G5485 of God G2316 in G1909 you. G5213
Only G3440 they would that G2443 we should remember G3421 the poor; G4434 the same G846 G5124 which G3739 I G4704 also G2532 was forward G4704 to do. G4160
As G5613 we have G2192 therefore G686 G3767 opportunity, G2540 let us do G2038 good G18 unto G4314 all G3956 men, especially G1161 G3122 unto G4314 them who are of the household G3609 of faith. G4102
Circumcised G4061 the eighth G3637 day, of G1537 the stock G1085 of Israel, G2474 of the tribe G5443 of Benjamin, G958 an Hebrew G1445 of G1537 the Hebrews; G1445 as touching G2596 the law, G3551 a Pharisee; G5330 Concerning G2596 zeal, G2205 persecuting G1377 the church; G1577 touching G2596 the righteousness G1343 which G3588 is in G1722 the law, G3551 G1096 blameless. G273
But G1161 as touching G4012 brotherly love G5360 ye need G2192 G5532 not G3756 that I write G1125 unto you: G5213 for G1063 ye G5210 yourselves G846 are G2075 taught of God G2312 to G1519 love G25 one another. G240 And G2532 indeed G1063 ye do G4160 it G846 toward G1519 all G3956 the brethren G80 which G3588 are in G1722 all G3650 Macedonia: G3109 but G1161 we beseech G3870 you, G5209 brethren, G80 that ye increase G4052 more and more; G3123
But G1161 of G4012 the times G5550 and G2532 the seasons, G2540 brethren, G80 ye have G2192 no G3756 need G5532 that I write G1125 unto you. G5213
But G2532 the anointing G5545 which G3739 ye G5210 have received G2983 of G575 him G846 abideth G3306 in G1722 you, G5213 and G2532 ye need G5532 G2192 not G3756 that G2443 any man G5100 teach G1321 you: G5209 but G235 as G5613 the same G846 anointing G5545 teacheth G1321 you G5209 of G4012 all things, G3956 and G2532 is G2076 truth, G227 and G2532 is G2076 no G3756 lie, G5579 and G2532 even as G2531 it hath taught G1321 you, G5209 ye shall abide G3306 in G1722 him. G846
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?