2 Corinthians 9 Study Notes

9:8 A form of the Greek word for “all” is used in four phrases here, translated as every grace . . . every way . . . everything you need, and every good work. A closely related word is translated always.

9:9 This quotation of Ps 112:9 is taken from a song about those who fear the Lord by living lives of righteous obedience to him, extolling them to give to the poor.

9:10-11 These verses return to the agricultural metaphor of v. 6, emphasizing God’s sovereignty in providing for the material needs of believers (seed) as well as for their spiritual needs (righteousness).

9:12-13 The impact of the Corinthians’ gift to the poor believers in Jerusalem would go far beyond Jerusalem. Other congregations would learn about it and praise God for the generosity of the Corinthians. Christian stewardship is one important way to acknowledge the truth of Christ’s gospel before others. For other instances of Paul’s use of “confess” or confession, see Rm 10:9-10; 1Tm 6:12-13.

The Greek adjective tapeinos means humble, lowly, or downcast. The related verb tapeinoo means to humiliate, humble, or make ashamed, and occurs fourteen times in the NT (four in Paul’s writings).

The ancient Greeks so emphasized personal strength and self-sufficiency that tapeinos and its related words were almost always used in a negative sense. To be humble or lowly was considered a vice. However, Jesus elevated tapeinos to the status of a virtue when he said, “I am lowly and humble in heart” (Mt 11:29), and Paul used tapeinoo to describe the incarnation (Php 2:8). Jesus warned that those who promote themselves will be judged by God, but he also said that those who humble themselves will be rewarded (Mt 23:12; Lk 14:11; 18:14; see Mt 18:4; 2Co 11:7). True humility is the opposite of putting self first. Humility means that a person does not think of self at all but instead thinks of the needs of others and makes their needs a priority (see Php 2:3-4). God gives grace to those who practice such humility (Jms 4:6; 1Pt 5:5).

9:14 An added incentive for giving is that other believers will pray for those who give generously, because generous giving is evidence of the grace of God already at work in such people.

9:15 His indescribable gift refers to God’s Son, Jesus. Giving ought to be an expression of appreciation to God for sending Jesus (Jn 3:16).