Commentaires bibliques

In this chapter the apostle seems to excuse his earnestness in pressing the Corinthians to the duty of charity (2Co 9:1-5), and proceeds to give directions about the acceptable way and manner of performing it, namely, bountifully, deliberately, and freely; and gives good encouragement for so doing, 2Co 9:6-15.

In this chapter 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 the apostle continues the subject which he had discussed in 2 Corinthians 8 - the collection which he had purposed to make for the poor saints in Judea. The deep anxiety which he had that the collection should be liberal; that it should not only be such as to be really an aid to those who were suffering, but be such as would be an expression of tender attachment to them on the part of the Gentile converts, was the reason, doubtless, why Paul urged this so much on their attention. His primary wish undoubtedly was, to furnish aid to those who were suffering. But in connection with that, he also wished to excite a deep interest among the Gentile converts in behalf of those who had been converted to Christianity among the Jews. He wished that the collection should be so liberal as to show that they felt that they were united as brethren, and that they were grateful that they had received the true religion from the Jews. And he doubtless wished to cement as much as possible the great body of the Christian brotherhood, and to impress on their minds the great truths that whatever was their national origin, and whatever were their national distinctions, yet in Christ they were one. For this purpose he presses on their attention a great variety of considerations why they should give liberally, and this chapter is chiefly occupied in stating reasons for that in addition to those which had been urged in the previous chapter. The following view will present the main points in the chapter.

(1) he was aware of their readiness to give, and knowing this, he had boasted of it to others, and others had been excited to give liberally from what the apostle had said of them, 2 Corinthians 9:1-2. The argument here is, that Paul's veracity and their own character were at stake and depended on their now giving liberally.

(2) he had sent the brethren to them in order that there might by no possibility be a failure, 2 Corinthians 9:3-5. Though he had the utmost confidence in them, and fully believed that they were disposed to give liberally, yet he knew also that something might prevent it unless messengers went to secure the contributions, and that the consequence might be, that he and they would be "ashamed" that he had boasted so much of their readiness to give.

(3) to excite them to give liberally, Paul advances the great principles that the reward in heaven will be in proportion to the liberality evinced on earth, and that God loves one who gives cheerfully, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. By the prospect, therefore, of an ample reward, and by the desire to meet with the approbation of God, he calls upon them to contribute freely to aid their afflicted Christian brethren.

(4) he further excites them to liberal giving by the consideration that if they contributed liberally, God was able to furnish them abundantly with the means of doing good on a large scale in time to come, 2 Corinthians 9:8-11. In this way he would enable them to do good hereafter in proportion as they were disposed to do good now, and the result of all would be, that abundant thanks would be rendered to God - thanks from those who were aided, and thanks from those who had aided them that they had been enabled to contribute to supply their needs.

(5) as a final consideration inducing them to give, the apostle states that not only would they thus do good, but would show the power of the gospel, and the affection which they had for the Jewish converts, and would thus contribute much in promoting the glory of God. The Jewish converts would see the power of the gospel on their Gentile brethren; they would feel that they now pertained to one great family; they would praise God for imparting his grace in this manner; and they would be led to pray much for those who had thus contributed to alleviate their needs, 2 Corinthians 9:12-14.

(6) Paul closes the whole chapter, and the whole discussion respecting the contribution about which he had felt so deep an interest, by rendering thanks to God for his "unspeakable gift," Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 9:15. Paul was ever ready, whatever was the topic before him, to turn the attention to him. He here evidently regards him as the author of all liberal feeling, and of all true charity; and seems to imply that all that they could give would he small compared with the "unspeakable gift" of God, and that the fact that God had imparted such a gift. to the world was a reason why they should be willing to devote all they had to his service.

St. Paul intimates that so ready were the Corinthians to make this charitable contribution, that it was scarcely necessary for him to write, 2 Corinthians 9:1, 2 Corinthians 9:2. But lest they should not be ready when he came, he had sent the brethren, Titus, etc., beforehand; lest, if any of the Macedonians should come with him, they should find them not prepared, though he had boasted so much of their ready mind, 2 Corinthians 9:3-5. He gives them directions how they shall contribute; and the advantage to be gained by it, in the fulfillment of the promises of God, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11. He shows them that by this means the poor shall be relieved, God glorified, their Christian temper manifested, and the prayers of many engaged in their behalf, 2 Corinthians 9:12-14. And concludes with giving thanks to God for his unspeakable gift, 2 Corinthians 9:15.

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, 2 Corinthians 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, 2 Corinthians 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, 2 Corinthians 9:3 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, 2 Corinthians 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, 2 Corinthians 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, 2 Corinthians 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, 2 Corinthians 9:8. And this is confirmed by a passage of Scripture cited out of Psalm 112:9 showing, that he that gives bountifully to the poor is ever regarded by the Lord, 2 Corinthians 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, 2 Corinthians 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, 2 Corinthians 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, 2 Corinthians 9:12. 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, 2 Corinthians 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, 2 Corinthians 9:15.

Ch. 8, 9 The Collection for the poor Saints at Jerusalem

The somewhat abrupt commencement of this chapter is explained by a reference to 1 Corinthians 16. See notes there (and also Acts 24:17; Romans 15:25-27). The plain directions there given by the Apostle render it unnecessary for him to enter into any explanation of his meaning here. Therefore the Corinthians are simply stirred up by the example of other Churches, and by considerations drawn from the nature of the Christian religion, to be forward in that good work.

CHAPTER 9

2 Corinthians 9:2. ἐξ ὑμῶν] B C א, min. Ambrosiast. Pelag. and several vss. have only ὑμῶν. So also Lachm. and Rück. But ἐξ was not understood and was found superfluous. Why should it be added?—2 Corinthians 9:4. After ταύτῃ Elz. has τῆς καυχήσεως, in opposition to B C D* F G א* min. and several vss. and Fathers. An addition by way of gloss from 2 Corinthians 11:17.—2 Corinthians 9:5. The readings πρὸς ὑμᾶς and προεπηγγελμένην (Lachm. Rück.; Tisch. has adopted only the latter) have preponderant, and the latter through the accession of C א decisive, attestation; προεπηγγ. is also to be preferred on this account, that προκατηγγ. might very easily arise through alliteration after the previous προκαταρτισ. Reiche has unsatisfactorily defended the Recepta εἰς (which crept in easily from 2 Corinthians 8:6) and προκατηγγ.—2 Corinthians 9:7. προαιρεῖται] Lachm. Rück. read προῄρηται, following B C F G א 31, Chrys. ms. Cypr. Aug. Pel. and several vss. But the sense: prout destinavit, presented itself to the not further reflecting copyists as so natural, that with the similarity of the two forms the present might drop out far more easily than come in.—2 Corinthians 9:8. δυνατός] Lach. and Rück. read δυνατεῖ. It has, indeed, the attestation of B C* D* F G (?) א; but if δυνατεῖ were the original reading, the gloss would not have been δυνατός simply, but δυνατός ἐστι, as in Romans 14:4, or δύναται.—2 Corinthians 9:10. σπέρμα] B D* F G 80, have σπόρον. So Lachm. and Rück. Occasioned by the thought of the σπόρον followin.

χορηγήσει … πληθυνεῖ … αὐξήσει] Elz. has χορηγήσαι … πληθύναι … αὐξήσαι, in opposition to B C E* F G א, min. Syr. Arr. Copt. Aeth. Arm. Vulg. It. Cyr. Cypr. Ambrosiast. Aug. The future was wrongly taken in the sense of wish, and accordingly, aided perhaps by the recollection of such passages as 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12, 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:5, was changed into the optative.[285] So also in Romans 16:20, instead of συντρίψει, συντρίψαι crept into A, vss. and Fathers.—2 Corinthians 9:15. δέ after χάρις is, with Lachm. and Tisch., to be deleted on preponderating evidence.

[285] For that these forms are not infinitives, is abundantly shown in Fritzsche, Diss. II. p. 82 ff.

CONTENTS.

By a delicate turn in 2 Corinthians 9:1-2, Paul begins once more from the work of collection, and impresses on his readers: (1) that they should make ready the bounty soon, before his arrival, 2 Corinthians 9:3-5; further, (2) that they should give amply, 2 Corinthians 9:5-6; and (3) that they should give with all willingness, 2 Corinthians 9:7; whereupon (4) he points them to the blessing of God, 2 Corinthians 9:8-11, and, finally, brings into prominence the religious consequence of the thanksgivings towards God, which their beneficence will call forth, 2 Corinthians 9:12-14. An utterance of thanks to God forms the conclusion, 2 Corinthians 9:15.

2Co 9:1-15.

REASONS FOR HIS SENDING TITUS. THE GREATER THEIR BOUNTIFULNESS, THE MORE SHALL BE THE RETURN OF BLESSING TO THEM, AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD.

1. For--connected with

2Co 8:16:

"Show love to the messengers of the churches; for as concerns the ministration for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you who are so forward already."

write--emphatical: It is superfluous to "write," for you will have witnesses present [BENGEL].