Bible Study - 2 Corinthians Chapter 9
Bible Study - 2 Corinthians Chapter 9
| 1 For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; | The second word of this verse in Greek is not translated. Mèn means "on the one hand". The other hand is the but in verse 3. While this is not necessary in the English, it does help with the logical division of thought, especially since Paul is addressing a difficult topic with great care. Regardless, understanding this part of the letter is dependent on understanding 8:16-24. | ||
| 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. | This is a reminder of their zeal to help last year. It was such that Paul boasted about it and that was a motivator to the rest of Achaia. This may have been Paul's intent. Spurring a friendly and positive competitive spirit can be a strong motivator for people to do good. On the other hand, Paul may be using a pygmalion psychology on the Corinthians to inspire them to live up to his boasting. | ||
| 3 But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; | Even though Paul has had such confidence in their generosity he has bragged about it, he wants to avoid an embarrassment or misunderstanding that could cause a breach of fellowship. So the reason for sending Titus and the two others in 8:18-22 is to make sure the Corinthians are prepared as they were before. And if there is a problem, to correct it in private. | ||
| 4 otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we - not to speak of you - will be put to shame by this confidence. | Paul would be embarrassed, and the Corinthians even more so, if his boasting was shown to be false. Embarrassment can break fellowship in a way that is harder to fix than a disagreement. Therefore, sending Titus + 2 is the prudent thing to do. And while that is true, letting them know the reason is to make sure their house is in order is a motivator for them to take care of things on their own. | ||
| 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness. |
So the purpose of sending the Titus team is to make sure the promised gift, that Paul bragged about to others, happens as it was promised last year. And that this be a bountiful gift out of a generous heart, and not a sparse gift out of a heart that is full of the love of money. Love of money is a better translation than covetousness. There is an alternate view that end of this verse is referring to accusations against Paul that he deals with in 12:17-18. However, this is a minority opinion and doesn't fit the context well. It is far more likely from the context that this is referring to the givers rather than Paul. | ||
| 6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. |
Paul uses the analogy of the farmer to make his point about Christian giving countering the pagan cultural view. However, this verse is often taken out of context and/or misinterpreted to mean that Christians should give in order to get. To take this view is to contradict chapter 8. It is also reading into the verse what is not explicitly there. There is not an indication here that the "reaping" is a reward for giving to the giver. The bountiful reaping is much more likely to be the benefit of being a blessing to the Christians in Jerusalem. Having a big impact for the benefit of others is a reward in itself. However, the point is to be able to meet the needs of other Christians. Clearly the motive is to help the kingdom of God by helping Christians in need, and not giving to get as the pagan temples promote. Just as in chapter 8, this is about the condition of the giver's heart. | ||
| 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. | The attitude of a Christian giver is to be happy about the opportunity to give to others. It is not under the obligation of the law, or under pressure by leaders like Paul. This verse is partly to counter giving under the compulsion of the law, which has been taught in Judaism for centuries before this. (Sirach 35:11.) Giving with a joyful heart is the motivation given. Following the law in this area is supposed to be a joy. And this applies to both tithing to the temple and to alms giving to the poor. | ||
| 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; |
Here Paul turns to counter our tendency to operate in the flesh instead of in faith. This is another verse taken out of context and/or misinterpreted to justify the idolatrous give to get mentality. This is not such an appeal. Instead, it is a call for faith and bravery in the face of one's fears of having enough. The fearful thought is something like, "I can't give because I may not have enough for myself/my family." In counterpoint, Paul is saying that God's grace will provide for our needs, and beyond that give us enough for doing good deeds. Take note, the purpose of God's grace in finances is to enable us to do good deeds. | ||
9
as it is written,
| This is a quote from Psalm 122:9. Psalm 122 speaks of how men who revere God will show unending righteousness. The result of their righteous living is that they will have prosperity. Verse 9 specifically cites giving to the poor as one of the ways they are righteous in this Psalm. Another way to put it is they are bearing good fruit. | ||
| 10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; |
God supplies the needs of the farmer, which are seed for sowing and bread to eat. Like money, the same seed that is ground to make flour for bread is also the seed that is planted to multiply. If we eat all our seed we will have none to plant. In other words, we should live under our means, not up to our means or beyond it. Whatever our income, if we spend it all on ourselves we have nothing to sow into the kingdom. Worse, most westerners live beyond their income and end up in a hole that will take years to come out of, let alone allow them to be generous. Again, the purpose of this is clear. God will meet our needs, and provide extra for sowing into the kingdom. Hosea 10:12 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. | ||
| 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. |
This could not be more clear. We will be enriched for the purpose of making it so we can always be generous. Thus, thanks to God will happen through us by our generosity. However, it is not necessarily in monetary terms that we are enriched. 1 Corinthians 1:5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge For example, being enriched in knowledge of carpentry means one is equipped to help the poor with repairs to their home they cannot afford to pay for. Or even in the building of a home for the poor like Habitat for Humanity. | ||
| 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. |
This verse makes an important point. While the specific goal of this collection is to relieve the extreme poverty of Christians in Jerusalem, the purpose of all giving is to honor God and bring glory to Him. In verses 6-12, there is no mention of giving to get. Every single reference to God blessing the giver is to enable giving. Yet prosperity preachers and other idolaters try to twist this to mean that giving will result in personal wealth for one's own benefit. In every instance here the purpose of prosperity is for giving or greater giving. Taking the farmer metaphor further, one who eats all their seed and sows nothing cannot be prosperous. | ||
| 13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, |
Paul crammed a lot into this verse. This act of giving is a proof to the church of Jerusalem. Considering Paul's ecumenical (unified church) focus that both Jew and Gentile are co-equal servants of Christ and the rest of the verse, it is most likely that the proof he is referring to is proof that the gentiles are truly followers of Christ and view the Jewish members as brothers and sisters. (Prejudice went both ways then as it does now.) The result of this proof will be them glorifying God. The reason for glorifying God is not just the relief of the gift, but that this is evidence that the gentiles are living out their faith. Further, the simplicity and frankness of character of the Corinthians as evidenced by this support also contributes to the reasons for glorifying God. Liberality here means their generosity. In other words, their open and straightforward actions speak louder than words about their heart and character. Finally, the ending, "and to all" is a matter of some debate. Most likely this means that their response to the great need and the heart that is demonstrated means this will not be an isolated effort, but a continual provision for Christians in need by the churches throughout the world. | ||
| 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. | In addition to glorifying God for making this relief possible and for bringing it about, the Christians of Jerusalem are praying for those who helped them. And they love the Corinthians because of the over the top grace of God in the people of the Corinthian church. | ||
| 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! | This is the first use of "thanks" in chapters 8 and 9, and it is given to God. The reason for this thanks is God's Indescribable/unspeakable gift. So after two chapters of reasoning, theology, and encouragement about the Corinthians giving Paul ends by pointing out the greatest gift of all came from God when Jesus died for us. Thus giving is a part of being Christ-like. |
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation.