2 Corinthians 9:4

4 ne cum venerint mecum Macedones et invenerint vos inparatos erubescamus nos ut non dicamus vos in hac substantia

2 Corinthians 9:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 9:4

Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me
The apostle had determined to come himself, though he was afterwards prevented by Providence, but could not be certain of the coming of the Macedonian brethren with him; however, as it was probable that some of them would come, whose hearts were so much in this work, therefore he judged it fit and proper to send the brethren before hand, in case they should come:

and find you unprepared;
not so ready for this service as had been boasted of, and the collection not finished, which had been begun a year ago.

We (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident
boasting;
or "in this same substance", or "subsistence of boasting": a boasting, which, he thought, they had the most solid and substantial ground and foundation to proceed upon; which, should it come to nothing, must cause shame both in the apostles, who had so largely, and with so much assurance, boasted of them; and in the Corinthians, who must be put to the blush, when it should be told them how much they had been boasted of with respect to their readiness, and yet were unprepared: so (tlxwt) , "hope", expectation, confidence, is rendered by the Septuagint (kauchma) , "boasting", ( Proverbs 11:7 ) and in ( Psalms 39:5 ) (upostasiv) , the word here used. And some copies, and also the Vulgate Latin version, only read, "in this substance", or glorying, and leave out boasting as superfluous.

2 Corinthians 9:4 In-Context

2 scio enim promptum animum vestrum pro quo de vobis glorior apud Macedonas quoniam Achaia parata est ab anno praeterito et vestra aemulatio provocavit plurimos

3 misi autem fratres ut ne quod gloriamur de vobis evacuetur in hac parte ut quemadmodum dixi parati sitis

4 ne cum venerint mecum Macedones et invenerint vos inparatos erubescamus nos ut non dicamus vos in hac substantia

5 necessarium ergo existimavi rogare fratres ut praeveniant ad vos et praeparent repromissam benedictionem hanc paratam esse sic quasi benedictionem non quasi avaritiam

6 hoc autem qui parce seminat parce et metet et qui seminat in benedictionibus de benedictionibus et metet