CHAPTER 9
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].
2.
ready a year ago—to send off the money, owing to the
apostle’s former exhortation (1Co 16:1, 2).
your
zeal—Greek, “the zeal from you,”
that is, on your part; propagated from you to others.
provoked—that is, stimulated.
very
many—Greek, “the greater number,”
namely, of the Macedonians.
3.
have I sent—we should say, “I send”; whereas
the ancients put it in the past, the time which it would be by the time that
the letter arrived.
the
brethren—(2Co 8:18, 22)—Titus and the two others.
should
be in vain in this behalf—“should
be proved futile in this particular,” however true in general (2Co 7:4).
A tacit compliment, softening the sharp monition.
as
I said—as I was saying (2Co 9:2).
4.
if they of Macedonia—rather as Greek, “if Macedonians.”
unprepared—with your collection; see 2Co 9:2, “ready,” Greek,
“prepared.”
we,
not to say ye—Ye would naturally feel more
ashamed for yourselves, than we (who boasted of you) would for you.
confident
boasting—The oldest manuscripts read simply
“confidence,” namely, in your liberality.
5.
that they would go before—Translate,
“that they should,” &c.
whereof
ye had notice before—rather, “promised before”; “long
announced by me to the Macedonians” (2Co 9:2) [Bengel].
“Your promised bounty” [Ellicott
and others].
not
as of covetousness—Translate,
“not as matter of covetousness,” which it would be, if you gave niggardly.
6.
I say—Ellicott
and others supply the ellipsis thus: “But remember this.”
bountifully—literally, “with,” or “in blessings.” The word
itself implies a beneficent spirit in the giver (compare 2Co 9:7, end),
and the plural implies the abundance and liberality of the gifts.
“The reaping shall correspond to the proportions and spirit of the sowing” [Bengel]. Compare Ez 34:26, “Showers of blessing.”
7.
according as he purposeth in his heart—Let
the full consent of the free will go with the gift [Alford]. Opposed to “of necessity,” as “grudgingly” is
opposed to “a cheerful giver” (Pr 22:9; 11:25; Is 32:8).
8.
all grace—even in external goods, and even
while ye bestow on others [Bengel].
that—“in order that.” God’s gifts are bestowed on us, not that
we may have them to ourselves, but that we may the more “abound in good works”
to others.
sufficiency—so as not to need the help of others, having yourselves
from God “bread for your food” (2Co 9:10).
in
all things—Greek, “in everything.”
every
good work—of charity to others, which will be
“your seed sown” (2Co 9:10).
9.
As it is written—realizing the highly blessed
character portrayed in Ps 112:9.
He—the “good man” (Ps 112:5).
dispersed—as seed sown with full and open hand, without anxious
thought in what direction each grain may fall. It is implied also that he has
always what he may disperse [Bengel].
So in Ps 112:9.
the
poor—The Greek word is found here
only in New Testament, “one in straitened circumstances, who earns his bread by
labor.” The word usually employed means “one so poor as to live by begging.”
his
righteousness—Here “beneficence”: the evidence of
his being righteous before God and man. Compare De 24:13; Mt 6:1,
“alms”; Greek, “righteousness.”
remaineth—unexhausted and unfailing.
10. Translate, as in Is 55:10, “He that ministereth (supplieth)
seed to the sower and bread for food” (literally, “bread for eating”).
minister—rather future, as the oldest manuscripts, “Shall
minister (supply) and multiply.”
your
seed—your means for liberality.
the
fruits of your righteousness—the
heavenly rewards for your Christian charity (Mt 10:42). Righteousness shall be
itself the reward, even as it is the thing rewarded (Ho 10:12; Mt 5:6; 6:33).
11. Compare 2Co 9:8.
bountifulness—Greek, “single-minded liberality.” Translated
“simplicity,” Ro 12:8.
causeth
through us—literally, “worketh through us”;
that is, through our instrumentality as the distributors.
thanksgiving—on the part of the recipients.
12. Greek, “The ministration of this public
service (on your part) is not only still further supplying the wants of
the saints (besides the supplies from other quarters), but is abounding also
(namely, in respect to relieving the necessities of others in poverty) through
many thanksgivings to God.”
13.
by—through occasion of.
experiment—Translate, “the experience” [Ellicott and others]. Or, “the experimental proof” of your
Christian character, afforded by “this ministration.”
they—the recipients.
for
your professed subjection—Greek,
“for the subjection of your profession”; that is, your subjection in accordance
with your profession, in relation to the Gospel. Ye yield yourselves in willing
subjection to the Gospel precepts, evinced in acts, as well as in profession.
your liberal distribution—Greek,
“the liberality of your contribution in relation to them,” &c.
14. Translate, “Themselves also with prayer for you, longing
after you on account of the exceeding grace of God (resting) upon you.” English
Version is, however, good sense: They glorify God (2Co 9:13) by the
experimental proof, &c., “and by their prayer for you.” But the Greek
favors the former.
15.
his unspeakable gift—the gift of His own Son, which
includes all other inferior gifts (2Co 8:9; Ro 8:32). If we have received from
God “His unspeakable gift,” what great thing is it, if we give a few perishing gifts
for His sake?
Excerpt from:
A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
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