1Paul sheweth the reason why, though he knew the forwardness of the Corinthians, he had sent the brethren beforehand to make up their collections against his coming. 6He stirreth them up to give bountifully and cheerfully, as a likely means to increase their store, 12and as productive of many thanksgivings unto God.
1FOR asa touching 1the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me 2to write to you:
a Acts 11:29; Rom. 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:4.
1 Hereby may be understood, either the contribution itself, or the manner of collecting it and sending it to Jerusalem, which he leaves totally to their pleasure, because he knew that they had long since been ready thereto, and had sufficient prudence to do the same well and proper.
2 Namely, more extensive or further.
2For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that 3Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3 Of which Corinth was the capital city. See Rom. 15:26 and 1 Cor. 1:2
3Yet have I sent 4the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye 5may be ready:
4 Namely, Titus with the two others, of whom mention is made in the previous chapter.
5 Namely, until the time I come, as the following verse declares.
4Lest haply if 6they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed 7in this same confident boasting.
6 That is, the brethren who were chosen by the congregations of Macedonia for bringing forward their collection.
7 Gr. in this substance of boasting, that is, in my firm confidence and bold boasting of you, namely, that it would not be your fault.
5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up 8beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, 9as a matter of bounty, and not 10as of covetousness.
8 This may be understood either of that which Titus had declared to them from Paul in his return from them, as may be gathered from 2 Cor. 7:13; or, of what Paul had written unto them previously in the first epistle at the beginning of the 16th chapter.
9 That is, as a free and liberal gift, as a blessing that has virtue, that it proceeds from a well-affected and liberal heart; an Hebrew phrase.
10 That is, extorted as a gift from covetous persons. The Greek word signifies properly covetousness, or desire to have more; from which sort of men it can hardly be obtained that they give anything, or, if they give something, it is very unwillingly, and, as it were, squeezed out or wrested from them.
6But this I say, Heb which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth 11bountifully shall 12reap also bountifully.
b Prov. 11:24; Gal. 6:7.
11 That is, freely and liberally, as in the previous verse. Understand always, according to what a man has, as 2 Cor. 8:12.
12 That is, receive abundant recompense from God, Gal. 6:9.
7Every man according as he 13purposeth in his heart, so let him give; notc grudgingly, or 14of necessity: ford God loveth a cheerful giver.
13 Gr. elects, chooses, namely, of his own free will.
c Deut. 15:7; Rom. 12:8.
14 Namely, for fear of being blamed if he would do otherwise, or loosing his respect with men.
d Exod. 25:2; 35:5.
8And God is able to make 15all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having 16all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
15 That is, means to be able to be bountiful towards everyone.
16 Namely, not only with yourselves in your mind, which is great gain, 1 Tim. 6:6, but also abundance to be able to relieve others in all kinds of necessity.
9(As it is 17written, Hee hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: 18his righteousness 19remaineth for ever.
17 Namely, Psalm 112:9, where the prophet also describes the characteristics of a godly man in this manner.
e Psalm 112:9.
18 That is, his bounty, or his works of mercy, as this word is often so taken by the Hebrews. See Psalm 112:9.
19 Namely, in the remembrance of men, and also of God, to be rewarded of grace forever, Mat. 25:34, etc.; Luke 12:33; 16:9, etc.
10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower 20both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your 21righteousness;)
20 Others distinguish this thus: and also bread for meat, he afford and multiply, etc.
21 That is, liberality as verse 9.
11Being enriched in every thing to all 22bountifulness, which 23causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
22 Gr. simplicity.
23 Namely, through the poor and such as suffer want, who are stirred up to thank God, when they receive such benefits from us, as the following verses further declare.
12For the administration of this 24service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
24 Gr. leitourgias, which word signifies indeed all manner of public service, as is noted in Acts 13:2, but is also sometimes taken for a service of offering, as alms are also called spiritual offerings, Philip. 4:18; Heb. 13:16, which signification therefore suits quite well here also.
13Whiles by 25the experimentf of this ministration they glorify God for 26your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
25 Or, approbation, good opinion.
f proving.
26 That is, that you hereby openly confess or testify that you subject yourselves in all things unto the Gospel of Christ, which also especially commends the works of charity.
14And by 27their prayer for you, which 28long after you 29for the exceeding grace of God in you.
27 Namely, which the believers at Jerusalem, being stirred up by your liberality, shall make more fervently for you.
28 Or, are very desirous after you, namely, that they may daily hear of your welfare. It may also be translated, who bear great affection to you.
29 That is, because they have understood by us and others how much grace and what great gifts the Lord has given to your congregation, Acts 21:18, 19.
1530Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
30 Herewith the apostle concludes this entire discourse to admonish them that the glory of all the aforementioned glorying and gifts, whereof he had spoken, and for which he had praised them, must be ascribed not really to them, but to God alone, for their humiliation.