2 Corinthians 9

9:1 For as touching the ministering to the saints [needy believers in Jerusalem], it is superfluous for me to write to you:

9:2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia [Corinth was in the province of Achaia] was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked [note the power of a good example] very many [read a description of the Macedonians’ giving in 2 Cor. 8:1-5)].

9:3 Yet have I sent the brethren [Titus and the two representatives mentioned in 8:16-23; their job was to inspire the Corinthians to follow-through on their commitment to give (read Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 9:1-4)], lest our boasting of you should be in vain [the Corinthians started their giving before the Macedonian churches, but the Macedonian churches completed their giving before the Corinthians] in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready [the time had come for their good intentions to result in practical action]:

9:4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia [representatives of the Macedonian churches (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea)] come with me, and find you unprepared [without their offering or not ready to give], we [Paul, in particular, would look like a liar] (that we say not, ye [the Corinthians would be embarrassed because of not living up to Paul’s words about them]) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they [Titus and the two representatives mentioned in 8:16-23] would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty [the Corinthians had an abundance out of which to give (cf. 2 Cor. 8:14)], whereof ye had notice before [the Corinthian Christians had pledged to give a generous gift a year earlier (cf. 2 Cor. 9:2); Paul wanted for them to live up to their commitment], that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty [the overflow of a loving and willing heart], and not as of covetousness.

9:6 But this I say [the principal of sowing and reaping; cf. Gal. 6:7-8], He which soweth sparingly shall reap [spiritual and material blessings] also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap [spiritual and material blessings] also bountifully.

9:7 Every man according as he purposeth [planned or determined; to choose beforehand; intentional rather than impulsive giving (see 1 Cor. 16:1-4)] in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly [reluctantly or out of grief, regret, sorrow], or of necessity [the obligation of duty; not because they thought they had to give, but because they wanted to give]: for God loveth a cheerful [hilarious, glad, or merry (these words indicate the idea of willingness); Paul wanted for the collection for the needy saints to be a happy occasion; proper giving brings joy rather than pain, as in the expression “give until it hurts”] giver.

9:8 And God is able to make all grace [God’s favor] abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things [more than enough], may abound [have enough left over to help others] to every good work:

9:9 (As it is written [cf. Ps. 112:9], He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

9:10 [cf. Isa. 55:10; Hos. 10:12] Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

9:11 [Paul said that God would bless the Corinthians for their generous giving…] Being enriched in every [spiritually and materially] thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints [the needy saints in Jerusalem], but is abundant also by many thanksgivings [for the financial aid; for the evidence that the (uncircumcised) Gentile Christians truly were their brothers and sisters in Christ] unto [from the recipients of the offering] God [God would receive praise because of the gift];

9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration [rendered to the poor Christians in Jerusalem] they glorify God [cf. Matt. 5:16] for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

9:14 And by their [Jewish Christians] prayer [the poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem would repay the kindness of the Gentile Christians with their prayers for them] for you [Gentile Christians], which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

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