9:1 Liberal and Cheerful Giving SUMMARY OF II CORINTHIANS 9: The Reason for Sending Titus to Corinth. Giving a Sowing. An Abundant Harvest to the Cheerful and Liberal Giver. The Unspeakable Gift. The ministering to the saints. Contributions to supply their needs. It is superfluous for me to write to you. They were fully instructed, and had begun the work. Yet he does write and explain why in 2Co 9:3. 9:2 I know the forwardness of your mind. I know your readiness (Revised Version). This is why it seemed superfluous to write. Achaia was ready a year ago. The churches of the province of Achaia, of which Corinth was the capital. The province embraced all southern Greece, including Athens and Cenchrea. They had begun the collection a year ago (2Co 8:10). 9:3 Yet have I sent the brethren. See 2Co 8:17,18,22. He sent them so that they would surely be prepared when he came. 9:4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me. Luke named certain brethren of Macedonia who did attend him (Ac 20:4). And find you unprepared, we... should be ashamed. If these should find Corinth unprepared with the collection when Paul came, after what he had said, it would fill him with shame. 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren. Hence, he thought it needful to send the brethren that the work might surely be conducted to completion, and the collection ready. As [a matter of] bounty. As a free gift, cheerfully bestowed. And not as [of] covetousness. Not something extorted from them: and not of extortion (Revised Version). 9:6 He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, etc. Giving is not a sacrifice, but rather a sowing. As the farmer gives his seed to the earth, and then reaps as he has sown, so giving is a sowing. If there is a spare sowing, there will be spare reaping; if liberal sowing, liberal reaping. See the same principle expressed in Ex 25:2 1Ch 29:14,17 Ps 102:9 Lu 6:38 Ac 20:35. The lesson of this verse is, give generously. The next verse teaches how to give. 9:7 Not grudgingly, or of necessity. Where one gives by compulsion, or to secure popular applause, or grudgingly, he is not approved. For God loveth a cheerful giver. The giving must be cheerful. It is the cheerful giver whom the Lord loves. 9:8 God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you. To bestow upon you every blessing, temporal as well as spiritual. He is able to make up all you part with and more. The faithful steward will be trusted with more. 9:9 As it is written. In Ps 112:9. He hath dispersed abroad. It is said there of the man who feareth the Lord: He does not hold tightly but dispenses abroad by giving to the poor. His righteousness. Right doing in giving. Remaineth for ever. That is, he is supplied with means to keep it up. 9:10 He that ministereth seed to the sower. God, who can, and does, bless charitable giving, will do so in the case of the Corinthians. The fruits of your righteousness will be increased, for your means will be increased. 9:11 Being enriched in every thing. This explains how the fruits of righteousnesses are increased. As they are enriched it tends to bountifulness, and this causeth thanksgiving to God. 9:12 For the administration of this service. Two things result from the bountiful giving. (1) The wants of the saints are supplied. (2) Their thanksgiving for the relief glorifies God. 9:13 They glorify God for your professed subjection, etc. That the Corinthians had become subject to the gospel and God's means of succoring their temporal wants. Some Judaizing Christians at Jerusalem doubted whether the Gentile churches were really churches of Christ. Such a gift would tend to open their minds and remove their prejudices, an object very dear to the heart of Paul. 9:14 And by their prayer for you. Thus, filled with affection for you, and longing for you on account of the proof they had of God's grace to you, they glorify God by prayer for you. 9:15 Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift. The Corinthians were asked to give; they were cited to the example of Christ (2Co 8:9); but now Paul bursts out in thanksgiving to God for his gift, which language cannot describe--Jesus Christ and his gospel. It was that gift which broken down the old enmity and bound together Jew and Gentile in love, so that Jewish Christians would pray, thank God for, and long for Gentile Christians like those that Corinth. | |