2 Corinthians 9

2 Corinthians 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 2 Corinthians 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 ( 1 Corinthians 16:1 1 Corinthians 16:2 ).
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--( 2 Corinthians 8:18 2 Corinthians 8:22 )--Titus and the two others.
should be in vain in this behalf--"should be proved futile in this particular," however true in general ( 2 Corinthians 7:4 ). A tacit compliment, softening the sharp monition.
as I said--as I was saying ( 2 Corinthians 9:2 ).

4. if they of Macedonia--rather as Greek, "if Macedonians."
unprepared--with your collection; see 2 Corinthians 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" ( 2 Corinthians 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 2 Corinthians 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 Ezekiel 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" ( Proverbs 22:9 , 11:25 , Isaiah 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" ( 2 Corinthians 9:10 ).
in all things--Greek, "in everything."
every good work--of charity to others, which will be "your seed sown" ( 2 Corinthians 9:10 ).