The Letters · New Testament
2 Corinthians 9
2 Corinthians 9: sending the brethren ahead and the cheerful giver
General context
Paul says it is unnecessary to write about the ministering to the saints, then writes about it anyway. He has boasted to the Macedonians that Achaia was ready a year ago and that its zeal stirred many, so he is sending the brethren ahead to make sure the boast holds. His reason is blunt: if Macedonians arrive with him and find the Corinthians unprepared, the embarrassment would fall on him and on them. He wants the bounty made up beforehand, so it looks like generosity rather than something extracted. He then states a principle about sowing and reaping, says each should give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, and adds that God loves a cheerful giver. God, he says, is able to make all grace abound so they will have sufficiency and abound in every good work, and he supports this with a written line about giving to the poor and a prayer that the one who supplies seed to the sower will multiply their seed and increase the fruits of their righteousness. The result he describes is double: the want of the saints is supplied, and many thanksgivings go up to God. The recipients will glorify God for the Corinthians' obedience and liberal distribution and will pray for them. The chapter ends in one short sentence of thanks for a gift he calls unspeakable.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 9:1, 2 Corinthians 9:2, 2 Corinthians 9:3, 2 Corinthians 9:4, 2 Corinthians 9:5, 2 Corinthians 9:6, 2 Corinthians 9:7, 2 Corinthians 9:8, 2 Corinthians 9:9, 2 Corinthians 9:10, 2 Corinthians 9:11, 2 Corinthians 9:12, 2 Corinthians 9:13, 2 Corinthians 9:14, 2 Corinthians 9:15
2 Corinthians 9 (KJV)
1For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10Now 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;)
11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
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Historical context
The chapter names two regions, Macedonia and Achaia, and gives one time marker, that Achaia was ready a year ago. The brethren being sent ahead are not named here. The chapter says nothing about the amount collected, where it is going or when it will arrive; it identifies the recipients only as the saints whose want is supplied. One written line is quoted, introduced as it is written, and printed as He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Psalm 112:9 prints He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour, so the letter adds abroad, reads remaineth where the Psalm reads endureth, and stops before the clause about the horn. The letter names no book for it. The unspeakable gift of the closing verse is not identified.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 9:1, 2 Corinthians 9:2, 2 Corinthians 9:3, 2 Corinthians 9:5, 2 Corinthians 9:9, 2 Corinthians 9:12, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Psalms 112:9
Literary context
The opening is a well-worn move: saying a subject needs no discussion, then discussing it for fifteen verses. The motive given first is social, avoiding shame in a confident boast, and Paul even interrupts himself to soften who would be shamed, that we say not, ye. From there the language turns agricultural and stays there. Sowing and reaping, seed, bread, seed sown and fruits of righteousness carry the middle of the chapter, and the quoted line about dispersing and giving sits inside a long parenthesis that suspends the sentence across two verses. The last third replaces arithmetic with thanksgiving, repeating thanks and thanksgivings until the chapter closes on a single short sentence that names no sum at all.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 9:1, 2 Corinthians 9:4, 2 Corinthians 9:6, 2 Corinthians 9:9, 2 Corinthians 9:10, 2 Corinthians 9:11, 2 Corinthians 9:12, 2 Corinthians 9:15
Key moments
- Achaia was ready a year ago (2 Corinthians 9:2). Paul reports boasting to the Macedonians about Corinthian readiness.
- Sent so the boast holds (2 Corinthians 9:3). He sends the brethren ahead so the boasting will not prove empty.
- Bounty, not covetousness (2 Corinthians 9:5). He wants the gift prepared in advance so it is given freely.
- A cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Each is to give as purposed in the heart, not grudgingly or of necessity.
- Given to the poor (2 Corinthians 9:9). A written line about dispersing and giving to the poor supports the appeal.
- Thanks for an unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15). The chapter closes with one sentence of thanks to God.
For reflection
Paul asks for the gift to be ready in advance so that it comes as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. What does the timing of a gift say about it that the amount does not?
