2 Corinthians 9:5

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. THAT THEY WOULD GO BEFORE. Translate, 'that they should,' etc. WHEREOF YE HAD NOTICE BEFORE, [ proepeengelmeneen (G4279)]. But 'Aleph (') B C Delta, Vulgate, 'promised before;' 'long vouched for by me to the Macedonians' (2 Corinthians 9:2) (Bengel). 'Your promised bounty' (Ellicott, etc.) [ eulogia (G2129)] - literally, blessing: it blesses both the receiver and the giver ...

5._As a blessing, not in the way of niggardliness _In place of _blessing, _some render it _collection. _I have preferred, however, to render it literally, as the Greeks employed the term εὐλογίας to express the Hebrew word ברכה, (_beracah,_) which is used in the sense of _a blessing, _that is, an invoking of prosperity, as well as in the sense of _beneficence. _(711) The reason I reckon to be this, that it is in the first instance ascribed to God. (712) Now we know how God blesses us efficiently by his simple nod. (713) When it is from this transferred to men, it retains the same meaning, — improperly, indeed, inasmuch as men have not the same efficacy in blessing, (714) but yet not unsuitably by transference....

1-5 When we would have others do good, we must act toward them prudently and tenderly, and give them time. Christians should consider what is for the credit of their profession, and endeavour to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. The duty of ministering to the saints is so plain, that there would seem no need to exhort Christians to it; yet self-love contends so powerfully against the love of Christ, that it is often necessary to stir up their minds by way of remembrance....

Verse 2 Corinthians 9:5. _WHEREOF YE HAD NOTICE BEFORE_] Instead of προκατηγγελμενην, _spoken of before_, BCDEFG, several others, with the _Coptic, Vulgate, Itala_, and several of the _fathers_, have προεπηγγελμενην, _what was promised before_. The sense is not very different; probably the latter reading was intended to explain the former. See the margin. _BOUNTY, AND NOT AS_ OF _COVETOUSNESS._] Had they been _backward_, strangers might have attributed this to a _covetous_ principle; as it would appear that they were loth to give up their money, and that they parted with it only when they could not for shame keep it any longer. This is the property of a _covetous_ heart; whereas _readiness_ to give is the characteristic of a _liberal_ mind. This makes a sufficiently plain sense; an

THEREFORE I THOUGHT IT NECESSARY ... - In order to secure the collection, and to avoid all unpleasant feeling on all hands. THAT THEY WOULD GO BEFORE UNTO YOU - Before I should come. AND MAKE UP BEFOREHAND YOUR BOUNTY - Prepare it before I come. The word “bounty” is in the margin, rendered “blessing.” The Greek (εὐλογία eulogia) means properly commendation, eulogy. Then it means blessing, praise applied to God. Then that which blesses - a gift, donation, favor, bounty - whether of God to human beings, or of one man to another. Here it refers to their contribution as that which would be adapted to confer a blessing on others, or suited to produce happiness. THAT THE SAME MIGHT BE READY AS A MATTER OF BOUNTY - That it may truly appear as a liberal and voluntary o

EXPOSITION Encouragement to the Corinthians to fulfil their promises by giving speedily (2 Corinthians 9:1), amply (2 Corinthians 9:6), cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7), and thereby earn God's blessing (2 Corinthians 9:8) in a cause fruitful of blessed consequence (2 Corinthians 9:12). He concludes the subject with a heartfelt thanksgiving (2 Corinthians 9:15)....

THEREFORE I THOUGHT IT NECESSARY TO EXHORT THE BRETHREN,.... Titus, and the other two, on whom he did not lay his commands, or apostolical injunctions, according to the authority and dignity of his office; only exhorted or besought them, and which was judged by him very needful and proper at this time: THAT THEY WOULD GO BEFORE HAND UNTO YOU; before him, and the Macedonian brethren that might probably come with him: AND MAKE UP BEFORE HAND YOUR BOUNTY; or blessing; for any present sent, or delivered, by one person to another, as a token of their friendship, favour, and good will, whether in a necessitous case or not, was by the Jews called ברכה, "a blessing"; see Genesis 33:11 and especially what is contributed for the relief of the poor may be so called, because it is not only a part of the bounty of Providence, and blessings of life, with which men

2. EXHORTATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT. CHAPTER 9 _ 1. Further Exhortations to Liberality. (2 Corinthians 9:1)_ 2. The Blessings Connected with Giving. (2 Corinthians 9:6 .) Again he exhorts them to liberality in giving. He knew their willing mind and had boasted of it to them in Macedonia and told them they were ready a year ago. This had stimulated many. He hoped that they would measure up to this report and fall not behind in this expectation “lest our boasting should be in vain in this behalf.” To encourage them in giving and carrying out what they had purposed, he speaks of the blessing: “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.” There is, then, blessing according to faithfulness in thi

2 Corinthians 9:1. On the general subject, the obligation to provide assistance for God's people, there is no need for Paul to write to the Corinthians. They have already acknowledged that obligation, and Paul has proudly announced their willingness to the Macedonians, a willingness which included the churches of Greece to which Corinth stood as centre. What he is now concerned about, and taking steps to secure, is the fulfilment of their promises and a fulfilment in the spirit of bountifulness and not of grudging calculation....

It is superfluous for me to write to you about this service designed to help God's dedicated people, for I know your eagerness, about which I have boasted for you to the Macedonians, for I have told them that Achaea has been ready since last year, and the story of your zeal has kindled the majority of them. But, all the same, I am sending the brothers, so that, in this particular matter, the boast I made of you may not be proved empty, so that you might be all ready, as I said you were. I do this in case the Macedonians should arrive with me and find you unprepared, and, in case, if that should happen, we--not to mention you yourselves--should be ashamed. I think it necessary to invite the brothers to go on ahead of us, and to get your promised bounty in order in good time, so that it should be ready as if you were eager to give and not as if I were forcing it out of you. As many of the...