2 Corinthians 8:9

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ In St Paul's eyes "Christ is the reference for everything. To Christ's life and Christ's Spirit St Paul refers all questions, both practical and speculative, for solution." Robertson. For gracesee above, 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 8:6. Tyndale and some of the other versions render it here by liberality, and Estius interprets by beneficentia.

though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor Rather, being rich (cf. John 3:13 in the Greek and ch. 2 Corinthians 11:31). There is no wasin the original. Jesus Christ did not cease to be rich when He made Himself poor. He did not cease to be God when He became Man. For became poorwe should perhaps translate, made Himself a beggar. The aorist refers to the moment when He became Man; and the word translated poorseems rather to require a stronger word. ("Apostolus non dixit pauper sed egenus. Plus est egenum esse quam pauperem." Estius.) The word (which seems "to have almost superseded the common word for poverty in the N.T." Stanley) is connected with the root to fly, to fall, and yet more closely with the idea of cowering, and seems to indicate a more abject condition than mere poverty. For the word, see Matthew 5:3, also ch. 2 Corinthians 6:10, and 2 Corinthians 8:2 of this chapter. For the idea cf. Matthew 8:20; Philippians 2:6-8.

that ye through his poverty might be rich We could only attain to God by His bringing Himself down to our level. See John 1:9-14; John 1:18; John 12:45; John 14:9; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3. And by thus putting Himself on an equality with us He enriched us with all the treasures that dwell in Him. Cf. Ephesians 1:7-8; Ephesians 2:5-7; Ephesians 3:16-19; Colossians 2:2-3, &c., as well as Philippians 2:6-8 just cited.