서론
无标题
简体中文
英文原文
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.
1-5
Charity Urged (57 AD)
简体中文
劝勉行善捐输 (公元57年)
¹ 论到供给圣徒的事，我不必写信给你们；
² 因为我知道你们乐意的心，常对马其顿人夸奖你们，说亚该亚人预备好了，已经有一年了；并且你们的热心激动了许多人。
³ 但我打发那几位弟兄去，好叫我们在这方面所夸奖你们的，不至于落空；要照我所说过的，预备妥当，
⁴ 万一有马其顿人与我同去，见你们没有预备，就叫我们所确信的成了羞愧——我说的是你们——这样我们就不致羞愧。
⁵ 因此，我想不得不求那几位弟兄先到你们那里，把从前所应许的捐资预备妥当，就显出你们所捐的是出于乐意，不是出于勉强。
在这些经文中，使徒以极大的尊敬和高超的技巧对哥林多人说话；他似乎在为自己如此恳切地劝勉他们行善而加以解释，却仍向他们施压，并表明他的心何等系念这事。
一、他告诉他们，对于劝他们救济贫穷的弟兄，再增添论证已是多余（林后 9:1）；他既对他们有如此美好的评价，便深信已经说得够多，足以感动他们。因为，1. 「他知道他们的乐意」——他们向各样的善工都乐意，并且一年前就已开始了这善工，以致 2. 他曾在马其顿人面前夸奖他们的热心，这又激动了许多马其顿人也照样去行。因此他深信，他们既已起得好，也必继续得好；于是他借称赞他们所已经行的，又使他们有责任继续并坚持。
二、他似乎在为自己差遣提多和别的弟兄到他们那里一事作出解释。他不愿意他们为此对他心生反感，仿佛他过于急切、向他们催逼太甚；他告诉他们如此差的真正理由，就是：1. 让他们既得着这及时的预告，就可完全预备妥当（林后 9:3），不致在他到他们那里时被仓促的要求所惊扰。我们若要别人行善，就当谨慎温柔地对待他们，给他们留出时间。2. 免得他对他们的夸口因他们未预备好而蒙羞（林后 9:3-4）。他暗示也许有马其顿人*「与他同去」；那时若捐项尚未齐备，考虑到使徒对他们所作的夸奖，这就要使他——不必说他们——羞愧了。他如此谨慎，为要保全他们的声誉和他自己的声誉。注意，基督徒应当顾念自己所宣告信仰的声誉，并竭力「尊荣我们救主——神的道」。*
英文原文
Charity Urged (57 AD)
¹ For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
² For 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.
³ Yet 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:
⁴ Lest 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.
⁵ Therefore 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.
In these verses the apostle speaks very respectfully to the Corinthians, and with great skill; and, while he seems to excuse his urging them so earnestly to charity, still presses them thereto, and shows how much his heart was set upon this matter.
I. He tells them it was needless to press them with further arguments to afford relief to their poor brethren (2Co 9:1), being satisfied he had said enough already to prevail with those of whom he had so good an opinion. For, 1. He knew their forwardness to every good work, and how they had begun this good work a year ago, insomuch that, 2. He had boasted of their zeal to the Macedonians, and this had provoked many of them to do as they had done. Wherefore he was persuaded, that, as they had begun well, they would go on well; and so, commending them for what they had done, he lays an obligation on them to proceed and persevere.
II. He seems to apologize for sending Titus and the other brethren to them. He is unwilling they should be offended at him for this, as if he were too earnest, and pressed too hard upon them; and tells the true reasons why he sent them, namely, 1. That, having this timely notice, they might be fully ready (2Co 9:3), and not surprised with hasty demands, when he should come to them. When we would have others to do that which is good we must act towards them prudently and tenderly, and give them time. 2. That he might not be ashamed of his boasting concerning them, if they should be found unready, 2Co 9:3,4. He intimates that some from Macedonia might haply come with him: and, if the collection should not then be made, this would make him, not to say them, ashamed, considering the boasting of the apostle concerning them. Thus careful was he to preserve their reputation and his own. Note, Christians should consult the reputation of their profession, and endeavour to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.
6-15
Charity Urged (57 AD)
简体中文
劝勉行善捐 (公元57年)
⁶ 「少种的少收，多种的多收」，这话是真的。
⁷ 各人要随本心所酌定的，不要作难，不要勉强，因为 神喜爱乐意捐献的人。
⁸ 神能将各样的恩惠多多加给你们，使你们凡事常常充足，能多行各样善事。
⁹ 如经上所记：「他施舍钱财，周济贫穷；他的义存到永远。」
¹⁰ 那赐种给撒种的、赐粮给人吃的，必多多加给你们种地的种子，又增添你们义的果子；
¹¹ 叫你们凡事富足，可以多多施舍，就借着我们使感谢归于 神。
¹² 因为办这供给的事，不但补圣徒的缺乏，而且叫许多人越发感谢 神；
¹³ 他们从这供给的事上得了凭据，知道你们承认基督的福音，又乐意的供给他们和众人，就把荣耀归与 神；
¹⁴ 他们也因 神极大的恩赐在你们心里，就切切地想念你们，为你们祈祷。
¹⁵ 感谢 神，因他有说不尽的恩赐！
在此我们有——
一、关于正当而蒙悦纳的施舍方法所当守的适当指示；我们不仅当作所要求的，也当照所命令的去作，这是极关紧要的。关于使徒愿哥林多人捐献的方式，请注意：1. 当慷慨：这在林后 9:5 已有暗示，所期望的是一笔慷慨的捐输，是出于宽宏，而非出于贪婪；他使他们留意：指望收割时得厚报的人，撒种时通常不会吝惜，因为所得的收成通常与所撒的相称（林后 9:6）。2. 当郑重：「各人要随本心所酌定的」（林后 9:7）。慈善之工如同其他善工，当经过思想和设计而行；而有人只是偶然行善。他们也许是因人的恳求仓促应允，并无善意的设计，所给超过所愿，事后又懊悔。或者，若他们好好考虑一切，可能会给得更多。在这事上，对我们自己的境况、以及我们将要救济之人的境况，作适当的深思熟虑，必大有助于指引我们在慈善用途上当如何慷慨。3. 当乐意——无论所给或多或少：「不要作难，不要勉强，乃要乐意」（林后 9:7）。人有时只为应付求乞者的缠扰而给，所给的几乎是被挤出来、被逼出来的，这种不情愿败坏了他们所作的一切。我们当比一些困苦之人因谦卑所敢于求的，给得更乐意：我们不该只是分饼给饥饿的人，更当*「顾恤」*他们（赛 58:10）。我们当慷慨地给，张手而给；乐意地给，开颜而给——因我们有能力、有机会行善而欢喜。
二、按照所指示的方式行这慈善之工的美好鼓励。在此使徒告诉哥林多人——
-
他们因慈善所给的，自己必不至损失。这可以消除许多人心中的暗暗异议——他们以为所给的可能变成自己的缺乏；但当知道：以正当方法给穷人的，绝非损失；正如宝贵的种子撒在地里并非损失——虽然一时被埋藏，却要发芽结果；撒种的必再得回来，并且加上倍的收成（林后 9:6）。凡乐意慷慨施舍的，可以盼望这样的厚报。因为：（1）「 神喜爱乐意捐献的人」（林后 9:7），凡作 神所爱之对象的人，有什么不可以盼望得着呢？人行 神所喜悦的事，还能有损失吗？这样的人岂不可以确知，他必这样或那样地成为得利的人吗？何况 神的爱和恩惠岂不胜过一切别的——胜过*「生命」本身吗？（2） 神能叫我们的慈善反过来成为我们的益处（林后 9:8）。我们没有理由怀疑 神的良善，更没有理由怀疑他的能力；他能「将各样的恩惠多多加给」我们，也在我们里面加添——赐下属灵和属世美物的大量增加。他能叫我们凡事充足——对自己所有的知足，弥补所给的，并仍能更多地给：如经上所记（诗 112:9），论到那慷慨施舍的人：「他施舍钱财，周济贫穷；他的义」——即他的施舍——「存到永远。」* 这事的尊荣是持久的，赏赐是永恒的，他仍能自己舒适地度日，又能慷慨地施与他人。（3）使徒为他们献上祷告，使他们成为得利的人，而非损失的人（林后 9:10-11）。在此请注意，[1] 这祷告是向谁献的——向 神，「那赐种给撒种的」——他以护理赐属地果子的增加如此丰盛，使我们不仅有一年够吃的饼，也有足够的种子可再撒，作将来的供应：或说， 神赐给我们的，不仅够我们自己用，也赐给我们可用以补足别人缺乏的，这些就当如同可撒的种子。[2] 他为什么祷告。他为他们所求的有几样，——使他们有*「饼可作食物」——常有够用的，得着「当用的粮」——又愿 神「多多加给他们所撒的种」——使他们仍能行更多的善——并愿「义果增加」——使他们收割丰盛，慈善的回报又多又厚，以至「凡事富足，可以多多施舍」*（林后 9:11）——使他们在总体上发现这话是真的：他们没有损失，反倒大有所得。注意，慈善之工非但不叫我们贫穷，反而是使我们真正富足的正当途径。
-
他们既不损失，那些穷苦受苦的圣徒却要有所得；因为这供给要*「补他们的缺乏」（林后 9:12）。我们若有理由看他们是圣徒，相信他们是信心之家的人，他们的缺乏又大，我们当何等乐意待他们好！我们的善不能达于 神，却当乐意施与这些「地上的圣民」*，借此表明我们以他们为乐。
-
这必使赞美和荣耀归给 神。许多人要因此向 神献上感谢——使徒和那些办理这供给的人（林后 9:11）。这些人要称颂 神，因他使他们成为如此善工的器皿，并使之成功。除此之外，别人也要感谢；那些缺乏得补的穷人，必十分感谢 神，为他们称颂 神；凡愿福音兴旺的人，也要*「因你们承认基督的福音，又乐意的供给他们和众人，就把荣耀归与 神」*（林后 9:13），以此为顺服的凭据。注意，（1）真实的基督教信仰就是对福音的顺服——把自己献给福音的真理和律法那掌管的影响力。（2）我们当借慈善之工显明我们对福音顺服的真诚。（3）这必成为我们信仰宣告的尊荣，并使赞美和荣耀归给 神。
-
那些缺乏得补的人，要尽他们所能作的最好回报——为那些救济他们的人向 神献上许多祷告（林后 9:14）。我们受人恩惠，在自己无力以别样报答时，也当如此报答；这既是穷人所能作的唯一回报，也常常大大有益于富人。
末了，使徒以这颂赞结束整件事：「感谢 神，因他有说不尽的恩赐！」（林后 9:15）。有人认为这「说不尽的恩赐」是指 神赐给众教会的恩惠——使他们能、也愿意供给圣徒的缺乏，这恩惠对施受双方都要带来说不尽的益处。但更恰当的理解是：他乃是指耶稣基督——他实在是 神赐给这世界说不尽的恩赐，是我们都有极大理由为此感谢的恩赐。
英文原文
Charity Urged (57 AD)
⁶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
⁸ And 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.
¹⁰ Now 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;)
¹¹ Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
¹² For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
¹³ Whiles 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;
¹⁴ And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
¹⁵ Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Here we have,
I. Proper directions to be observed about the right and acceptable manner of bestowing charity; and it is of great concernment that we not only do what is required, but do it as is commanded. Now, as to the manner in which the apostle would have the Corinthians give, observe, 1. It should be bountifully; this was intimated, 2Co 9:5, that a liberal contribution was expected, a matter of bounty, not what savoured of covetousness; and he offers to their consideration that men who expect a good return at harvest are not wont to pinch and spare in sowing their seed, for the return is usually proportionable to what they sow, 2Co 9:6. 2. It should be deliberately Every man, according as he purposes in his heart, 2Co 9:7. Works of charity, like other good works, should be done with thought and design; whereas some do good only by accident. They comply, it may be hastily, with the importunity of others, without any good design, and give more than they intended, and then repent of it afterwards. Or possibly, had they duly considered all things, they would have given more. Due deliberation, as to this matter of our own circumstances, and those of the persons we are about to relieve, will be very helpful to direct us how liberal we should be in our contributions for charitable uses. 3. It should be freely, whatever we give, be it more or less: Not grudgingly, nor of necessity, but cheerfully, 2Co 9:7. Persons sometimes will give merely to satisfy the importunity of those who ask their charity, and what they give is in a manner squeezed or forced from them, and this unwillingness spoils all they do. We ought to give more freely than the modesty of some necessitous persons will allow them to ask: we should not only deal out bread, but draw out our souls to the hungry, Isa 58:10. We should give liberally, with an open hand, and cheerfully, with an open countenance, being glad we have ability and an opportunity to be charitable.
II. Good encouragement to perform this work of charity in the manner directed. Here the apostle tells the Corinthians,
1. They themselves would be no losers by what they gave in charity. This may serve to obviate a secret objection in the minds of many against this good work who are ready to think they may want what they give away; but such should consider that what is given to the poor in a right manner is far from being lost; as the precious seed which is cast into the ground is not lost, though it is buried there for a time, for it will spring up, and bear fruit; the sower shall receive it again with increase, 2Co 9:6. Such good returns may those expect who give freely and liberally in charity. For, (1.) God loveth a cheerful giver (2Co 9:7), and what may not those hope to receive who are the objects of the divine love? Can a man be a loser by doing that with which God is pleased? May not such a one be sure that he shall some way or other be a gainer? Nay, are not the love and favour of God better than all other things, better than life itself? (2.) God is able to make our charity redound to our advantage, 2Co 9:8. We have no reason to distrust the goodness of God, and surely we have no reason to question his power; he is able to make all grace abound towards us, and abound in us; to give a large increase of spiritual and temporal good things. He can cause us to have a sufficiency in all things, to be content with what we have, to make up what we give, to be able to give yet more: as it is written (Ps 112:9) concerning the charitable man, He hath dispersed abroad. He hath given to the poor. His righteousness, that is, his almsgiving, endureth for ever. The honour of it is lasting, the reward of it eternal, and he is still able to live comfortably himself and to give liberally to others. (3.) The apostle puts up a prayer to God in their behalf that they might be gainers, and not losers, 2Co 9:10,11. Here observe, [1.] To whom the prayer is made—to God, who ministereth seed to the sower, who by his providence giveth such an increase of the fruits of the earth that we have not only bread sufficient to eat for one year, but enough to sow again for a future supply: or thus, It is God who giveth us not only a competency for ourselves, but that also wherewith we may supply the wants of others, and so should be as seed to be sown. [2.] For what he prayeth. There are several things which he desires for them, namely, that they may have bread for their food, always a competency for themselves, food convenient,—that God will multiply their seed sown, that they may still be able to do more good,—and that there may be an increase of the fruits of righteousness, that they may reap plentifully, and have the best and most ample returns of their charity, so as to be enriched in every thing to all bountifulness (2Co 9:11),—that upon the whole they may find it true that they shall be no losers, but great gainers. Note, Works of charity are so far from impoverishing us that they are the proper means truly to enrich us, or make us truly rich.
2. While they would be no losers, the poor distressed saints would be gainers; for this service would supply their wants, 2Co 9:12. If we have reason to think them to be saints, whom we believe to be of the household of faith, whose wants are great, how ready should we be to do them good! Our goodness can not extend unto God, but we should freely extend it to these excellent ones of the earth, and thus show that we delight in them.
3. This would redound to the praise and glory of God. Many thanksgivings would be given to God on this account, by the apostle, and by those who were employed in this ministration, 2Co 9:11. These would bless God, who had made them happy instruments in so good a work, and rendered them successful in it. Besides these, others also would be thankful; the poor, who were supplied in their wants, would not fail to be very thankful to God, and bless God for them; and all who wished well to the gospel would glorify God for this experiment, or proof of subjection to the gospel of Christ, and true love to all men, 2Co 9:13. Note, (1.) True Christianity is a subjection to the gospel, a yielding of ourselves to the commanding influence of its truths and laws. (2.) We must evince the sincerity of our subjection to the gospel by works of charity. (3.) This will be for the credit of our profession, and to the praise and glory of God.
4. Those whose wants were supplied would make the best return they were able, by sending up many prayers to God for those who had relieved them, 2Co 9:14. And thus should we recompense the kindnesses we receive when we are not in a capacity of recompensing them in any other way; and, as this is the only recompence the poor can make, so it is often greatly for the advantage of the rich.
Lastly, The apostle concludes this whole matter with this doxology, Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift, 2Co 9:15. Some think that by this unspeakable gift he means the gift of grace bestowed on the churches, in making them able and willing to supply the necessities of the saints, which would be attended with unspeakable benefit both to the givers and receivers. It should seem rather that he means Jesus Christ, who is indeed the unspeakable gift of God unto this world, a gift we have all reason to be very thankful for.
第九章概述 (公元57年)
本章中，使徒似乎在为自己如此恳切地劝勉哥林多人尽上当尽的本分——慈善之工——加以解释（林后 9:1-5），接着就如何以可蒙悦纳的方式和态度来行这事给出指示，即：慷慨地、慎重地、甘心乐意地行；并为此举提供了充分的鼓励（林后 9:6-15）。