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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)
繁體中文
勉勵慈善（主後 57 年）
¹ 論到供給聖徒的事，我不必寫信給你們；
² 因為我知道你們樂意的心，常對馬其頓人誇獎你們，說亞該亞人預備好了，已經有一年了；並且你們的熱心激動了許多人。
³ 但我打發那幾位弟兄去，要叫你們照我的話預備妥當，免得我們在這誇獎你們的話上落了空。
⁴ 萬一有馬其頓人與我同去，見你們沒有預備，就叫我們所深信的，反成了羞愧——你們羞愧更不用說了。
⁵ 因此，我想不得不求那幾位弟兄先到你們那裏，把從前所應許的捐資預備妥當，就顯出你們所捐的是出於樂意，不是出於勉強。
在這幾節經文中，使徒非常恭敬又極其巧妙地對哥林多人說話；他在似乎為自己如此懇切地勸勉他們行善一事辯解的同時，仍向他們施壓，表明自己何等看重這件事。
I. 他告訴他們，再用更多的論據勸他們賙濟貧窮的弟兄是多餘的（林後 9:1），因為他深信自己所說的已經足夠說服那些他如此有好評的人。因為：1. 他知道他們樂意的心——對各樣善工都有熱心，而且他們一年前就已經開始了這善工，以至於：2. 他曾向馬其頓人誇獎他們的熱心，這激動了許多人效法他們的榜樣。因此他深信，他們既然起頭起得好，也必繼續行得好；於是藉着稱讚他們所做的，便給他們加上了一個繼續堅持的義務。
II. 他似乎為差遣提多和其他弟兄到他們那裏去一事辯解。他不願他們為此生他的氣，以為他太過迫切、施壓太重；他告訴了他們差遣弟兄們的真正原因：1. 他們既然及早得到通知，就可以完全預備好（林後 9:3），不至在他來到時被匆促的要求所驚嚇。我們要別人行善時，當向他們謹慎而體貼地行事，給他們時間。2. 免得他若發現他們沒有預備好，就因對他們的誇口而蒙羞（林後 9:3-4）。他暗示可能有馬其頓人與他同來；若那時捐項尚未齊備，考慮到使徒對他們的誇口，這將使他——更不用說他們——羞愧。他如此謹慎，為要保全他們的名聲和他自己的。請注意：基督徒當顧念自己信仰的名聲，並努力以善行裝飾神我們救主的道。
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)
繁體中文
勸勉慈善捐輸（公元57年）
⁶ 這一點我說：少種的少收，多種的多收。
⁷ 各人要隨本心所酌定的，不要作難，不要勉強，因為捐得樂意的人是神所喜愛的。
⁸ 神能將各樣的恩惠多多地加給你們，使你們凡事常常充足，能多行各樣善事。
⁹ 如經上所記：他施捨錢財，賙濟貧窮；他的仁義存到永遠。
¹⁰ 那賜種給撒種的，賜糧給人吃的，必多多加給你們種地的種子，又增添你們仁義的果子；
¹¹ 叫你們凡事富足，可以多多施捨，就藉着我們使感謝歸于神。
¹² 因為辦這供給的事，不但補聖徒的缺乏，而且叫許多人越發感謝神。
¹³ 他們從這供給的事上憑了憑據，知道你們承認基督順服福音，又樂意捐給他們和眾人，便將榮耀歸與神；
¹⁴ 他們也因神極大的恩賜在你們心裏，就切切地想念你們，為你們祈禱。
¹⁵ 感謝神，因他有說不盡的恩賜。
在本段中我們看到：
第一，關于正確而蒙悅納的捐輸方式，當遵守的恰當指示；我們不僅當行所要求的，還當照着所命令的去行，這是極關重要的。至于使徒要哥林多人怎樣捐輸，當留意：1. 應當豐厚地捐輸；這一點已在 2Co 9:5 暗示了，那裏期望的是一份慷慨的捐獻，一件出于恩典的事，而不是帶有貪婪氣味之物；他又將一個道理擺在他們面前：指望在收割時有豐厚收成的人，在撒種時通常不會吝惜節省，因為收成往往與所撒的種子成正比（2Co 9:6）。2. 應當經過深思——「各人要隨本心所酌定的」（2Co 9:7）。慈善的工作如同其他善工一樣，當經過思考和設計而行；然而有些人只是偶然行善。他們也許是匆忙地順從了別人的強求，並沒有甚麼好的計畫，給了超過自己原意的，事後又後悔。或者，若他們事先仔細權衡一切，他們本會給得更多。在這件事上，适當地考慮我們自己的處境，以及我們所要救濟之人的處境，對于引導我們在慈善用途上該如何慷慨捐獻，必大有幫助。3. 應當甘心地給，無論我們給多給少：「不要作難，不要勉強」，乃要樂意（2Co 9:7）。人有時只是為了滿足求施之人的強求才肯給，他們所給的，在某種意義上像是被擠出來或被勉強出來的，而這種不情願敗壞了他們所行的一切。我們當比一些貧困之人因其謙卑而不敢開口所求的，給得更加甘心：我們不僅當把餅分給人，更當「把心向饑餓的人舒展」（賽 58:10）。我們應當慷慨地給，張開手施捨；並且甘心地給，帶着喜樂的面容，因自己有能力並有機會行善而歡喜。
第二，以所指示的方式行這慈善之工的良好鼓勵。在此使徒告訴哥林多人：
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他們自己在慈善上所給出去的，絕不至于吃虧。這可以消除許多人心中反對這件善工的一個隱秘疑慮——他們很容易認為，自己所給出去的，將來可能自己會不夠用；但這樣的人當思想，按正確方式給窮人的，絕不是損失；正如寶貴的種子撒在地裏並不是損失一樣，雖然它一時被埋在其中，但它必發芽結實；撒種的必再加倍收回（2Co 9:6）。那些甘心慷慨施捨的人，也可以指望這樣美好的回報。因為：（1）「捐得樂意的人是神所喜愛的」（2Co 9:7），而作為神之愛的對象，這樣的人還有甚麼不能指望得着的呢？人行神所喜悅的事，還能吃虧嗎？這樣的人豈不可以確信，他必在某方面或在某種方式上有所收穫嗎？豈不是神的愛和恩寵勝過一切別的事物，「比生命更好」嗎？（2）神能使我們的慈善轉而成為我們的益處（2Co 9:8）。我們沒有理由懷疑神的良善，也沒有理由懷疑他的能力；他「能將各樣的恩惠多多地加給」我們，並在我們裏面增多；賜下屬靈和屬世美物的豐盛加增。他能使我們凡事充足，因所有的而知足，補足我們所給出去的，使我們還能給得更多；正如論到那賙濟之人所記的（詩 112:9）：「他施捨錢財，賙濟貧窮；他的仁義」——就是他的施捨——「存到永遠」。這事的尊榮是持久的，賞賜是永恆的，而他自己仍能安舒度日，又能慷慨施捨于人。（3）使徒為他們向神獻上禱告，使他們可以有所收穫，而不是吃虧（2Co 9:10-11）。在此當留意：[1] 這禱告是向誰獻的——向神，就是那「賜種給撒種的」神，他以護理賜下地上果實極大的豐收，使我們不僅有足夠一年吃的糧，也有足夠再撒種以供將來之用的；或者這樣說：神不僅賜我們自己夠用的，也賜我們可供應別人需要的，這就當如種子一般撒出去。[2] 他為甚麼事禱告。他為他們所求的有幾樣，就是：願他們「有糧得飽」——常常有自己夠用的，「賜下合宜的糧食」——願神「加增他們所撒的種」，使他們仍能行更多的善——又願「增添他們仁義的果子」，使他們可以豐收，並得着慈善最好、最豐盛的回報，以至于「凡事富足，可以多多施捨」（2Co 9:11）——使總而言之他們可以發現這是真的：他們不是吃虧的人，而是大有所獲的人。當留意，慈善的工作非但不會使我們貧窮，反而是真正能使我們富足、使我們真正成為富足的正當途徑。
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當他們自己不吃虧時，那些貧困受苦的聖徒卻有所獲；因為這供給的事「補聖徒的缺乏」（2Co 9:12）。若我們有理由看他們為聖徒——我們既信他們是神家裏的人，而他們的缺乏又甚大——我們當何等樂意向他們行善！我們的善行不能延及神自己，但我們應當甘心將它延及「地上這些美德之人」，藉此表明我們以他們為樂。
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這事必轉而成為神的讚美和榮耀。因這緣故，必有許多人向神獻上感謝——使徒和在這供給之事上有分的人都必如此（2Co 9:11）。他們必稱頌神，因神使他們在這善工中作有福的器皿，並在其中使他們亨通。除此以外，還有別人也必感謝；那些在缺乏中蒙供應的窮人，必不會忘記向神大大感恩，並為他們稱頌神；而一切願福音興旺的人，也必「為你們承認基督順服福音的憑據」而「將榮耀歸與神」，並為他們對眾人的真誠之愛而榮耀神（2Co 9:13）。當留意：（1）真正的基督信仰就是順服福音，就是把自己順服在福音的真理和律法那統管的影響之下。（2）我們必須以慈善的善行來證明我們順服福音的誠意。（3）這將成為我們信仰見證的榮耀，並使神得着讚美和榮耀。
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那些蒙供應的人，也要盡其所能作出最好的回報，就是為那些救濟他們的人向神獻上許多禱告（2Co 9:14）。我們所領受的恩慈，當我們無法以別的方式報答時，也當這樣報答；而且，這既是窮人所能作的唯一回報，也往往大大使富人得益。
「最後」，使徒以這句頌讚結束了整件事：「感謝神，因他有說不盡的恩賜」（2Co 9:15）。有人認為，他所說這說不盡的恩賜，是指神賜給眾教會的恩典——使他們能並且願意供應聖徒的需要，而這恩賜必為施者和受者雙方帶來說不盡的益處。但更可能的是，他所指的是耶穌基督，他實在是神賜給這世界說不盡的恩賜，是我們眾人都有極大理由為之感恩的。
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.
本章中，使徒似乎在為自己竭力勸勉哥林多人盡慈善之本分一事作辯解（林後 9:1-5），接着指示他們行這善工當有的可悅納的方式和態度——即慷慨地、鄭重地、甘心地而行；並為他們如此行提供了美好的鼓勵（林後 9:6-15）。