2 Corinthians 9

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

1 Now ¹it is superfluous for me to write to you about ²the ministry for the saints,

2 for I know your readiness, ³of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready ⁴since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.

3 But ⁵I am sending^[a] the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, ⁶as I said you would be.

4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians ⁷come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated--to say nothing of you--for being so confident.

5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the ⁸gift^[b] you have promised, so that it may be ready ⁹as a willing gift, ¹⁰not as an exaction.^[c]

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: ¹¹whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[d] will also reap bountifully.

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, ¹²not reluctantly or under compulsion, for ¹³God loves a cheerful giver.

8 And ¹⁴God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency^[e] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

9 As it is written, ¹⁵"He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."

10 He who supplies ¹⁶seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ¹⁷increase the harvest of your righteousness.

11 ¹⁸You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which ¹⁹through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying ²⁰the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

13 By their approval of this service, ²¹they^[f] will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your ²²confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

15 ²³Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

2 Corinthians 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

The reason for sending Titus to collect their alms. (1-5) The Corinthians to be liberal and cheerful, The apostle thanks God for his unspeakable gift. (6-15)

Verses 1-5 When we would have others do good, we must act toward them prudently and tenderly, and give them time. Christians should consider what is for the credit of their profession, and endeavour to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. The duty of ministering to the saints is so plain, that there would seem no need to exhort Christians to it; yet self-love contends so powerfully against the love of Christ, that it is often necessary to stir up their minds by way of remembrance.

Verses 6-15 Money bestowed in charity, may to the carnal mind seem thrown away, but when given from proper principles, it is seed sown, from which a valuable increase may be expected. It should be given carefully. Works of charity, like other good works, should be done with thought and design. Due thought, as to our circumstances, and those we are about to relieve, will direct our gifts for charitable uses. Help should be given freely, be it more or less; not grudgingly, but cheerfully. While some scatter, and yet increase; others withhold more than is meet, and it tends to poverty. If we had more faith and love, we should waste less on ourselves, and sow more in hope of a plentiful increase. Can a man lose by doing that with which God is pleased? He is able to make all grace abound towards us, and to abound in us; to give a large increase of spiritual and of temporal good things. He can make us to have enough in all things; and to be content with what we have. God gives not only enough for ourselves, but that also wherewith we may supply the wants of others, and this should be as seed to be sown. We must show the reality of our subjection to the gospel, by works of charity. This will be for the credit of our profession, and to the praise and glory of God. Let us endeavour to copy the example of Christ, being unwearied in doing good, and deeming it more blessed to give than to receive. Blessed be God for the unspeakable gift of his grace, whereby he enables and inclines some of his people to bestow upon others, and others to be grateful for it; and blessed be his glorious name to all eternity, for Jesus Christ, that inestimable gift of his love, through whom this and every other good thing, pertaining to life and godliness, are freely given unto us, beyond all expression, measure, or bounds.

Cross References

• 1. [1 Thessalonians 4:9]
• 2. See Romans 15:25
• 3. 2 Corinthians 8:24
• 4. 2 Corinthians 8:10
• 5. 2 Corinthians 8:6, 17, 18, 22
• 6. 1 Corinthians 16:2
• 7. [Acts 20:4]
• 8. Genesis 33:11; Judges 1:15; 1 Samuel 25:27
• 9. [Philippians 4:17]
• 10. [2 Corinthians 12:17, 18]
• 11. Proverbs 11:24, 25; Proverbs 22:9; Galatians 6:7, 9; [Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38]
• 12. Deuteronomy 15:10; See 2 Corinthians 8:12
• 13. See Exodus 25:2
• 14. Philippians 4:19; [Ephesians 3:2]
• 15. Cited from Psalms 112:9
• 16. Isaiah 55:10
• 17. [Hosea 10:12]
• 18. 1 Corinthians 1:5
• 19. [2 Corinthians 1:11]
• 20. 2 Corinthians 8:14
• 21. See Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12
• 22. 1 Timothy 6:12, 13; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 10:23
• 23. [John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8]; See 2 Corinthians 2:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Or I have sent
• [b]. Greek blessing; twice in this verse
• [c]. Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed
• [d]. Greek with blessings; twice in this verse
• [e]. Or all contentment
• [f]. Or you

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CORINTHIANS 9

The apostle proceeds in this chapter upon the same subject, the making a collection for the poor saints; gives the reason why he sent the brethren to them on this account; directs to the manner in which this service should be performed, and subjoins some fresh arguments to encourage them to it. As for the ministration itself, he suggests, it might seem needless to say any more about it, since he had said so much already in the preceding chapter, 2Co 9:1 and especially seeing they were so forward to it, and were even prepared for it a year ago; of which the apostle had boasted to the Macedonian churches, 2Co 9:2 and whereas it might be objected, that since there was such an inclination in them to this good work, why did he send these brethren to them? the reason of this he gives, 2Co 9:3,4 that they might get their collection ready against the time he came, lest should any of the Macedonians come along with him, and this collection not be made, his glorying of them would be in vain, and both he and they would be ashamed; wherefore he sent them before hand to prevent everything of this kind, and that their collection might appear to be not done in a covetous niggardly way, but bountifully and cheerfully, 2Co 9:5 which manner he directs unto, and encourages from the advantages of it, under the metaphorical phrases of sowing and reaping, intimating, that as a man sows, so he reaps; or in proportion to his giving, is he blessed, 2Co 9:6 wherefore he advises to give heartily, freely, and cheerfully, and that from this consideration, because cheerful giving is acceptable to God, being like himself, 2Co 9:7 who, as he loves, so he rewards the cheerful giver; and as he is able to give him abundance, so he does, whereby he is more qualified and fitted for such liberal service, 2Co 9:8. And this is confirmed by a passage of Scripture cited out of Ps 112:9 showing, that he that gives bountifully to the poor is ever regarded by the Lord, 2Co 9:9 and which is further proved from the general course of Providence, which so multiplies and increases the seed sown in the earth, that it usually ministers seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; to which the apostle had alluded in the use of these metaphorical expressions; or he puts up a prayer that there might, or delivers out a promise that there would be a like increase in giving liberally, as in sowing plentifully, 2Co 9:10. And then he makes use of a new argument, stirring up to bountifulness, taken from the glory which is brought to God through thanksgiving to him, from the poor and needy, supplied by the liberality of those whose hearts he had opened, 2Co 9:11. On which argument he enlarges, showing, that not only by this bounty the wants of the poor are supplied, and thanksgivings offered up to God on that account; but also the poor saints are led to glorify God for sending his Gospel to these their benefactors, and giving them his grace to submit unto it, which had had such an influence upon them as to cause them to communicate to their necessities in such a generous manner, 2Co 9:12,13. To which he adds another argument, taken from the prayers of the poor saints, for those who liberally contributed to them, that they might prosper in body and soul, in things temporal and spiritual, 2Co 9:14. And the chapter is concluded with a thanksgiving to God for the grace bestowed upon all the churches, and particularly for the gift of Christ to the sons of men; which contains in it another argument for beneficence and liberality, 2Co 9:15.