CHAPTER IX. _St. Paul intimates that so ready were the Corinthians to make_ _this charitable contribution, that it was scarcely necessary_ _for him to write_, 1, 2. _But lest they should not be ready when he came, he had sent_ _the brethren, Titus, c., beforehand lest, if any of the_ _Macedoni... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:2. _I KNOW THE FORWARDNESS OF YOUR MIND_] You have already _firmly purposed_ to contribute to the support of the poor and suffering saints. _THAT ACHAIA WAS READY A YEAR AGO_] The whole of the _Morea_ was anciently called _Achaia_, the capital of which was _Corinth_. The apost... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:3. _YET HAVE I SENT THE BRETHREN_] Titus and his companions, mentioned in the preceding chapter. _THAT, AS I SAID, YE MAY BE READY_] And he wished them to be ready, that they might preserve the good character he had given them: this was for their _honour_; and if they did not... [ Continue Reading ]
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 re... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:6. _HE WHICH SOWETH SPARINGLY_] This is a plain maxim: no man can expect to reap but in proportion as he has sowed. And here _almsgiving_ is represented as a _seed sown_, which shall bring forth a _crop_. If the sowing be liberal, and the seed good, the crop shall be so too. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:7. _NOT GRUDGINGLY, OR OF NECESSITY_] The Jews had in the temple _two chests_ for alms; the one was של תובה of what was _necessary_, i.e. what the law required, the other was של נרבה of the _free-will offerings_. To escape perdition some would _grudgingly_ give what _necessity_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:8. _GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND_] We have already seen, 2 Corinthians 8:1 that the word χαρις, in the connection in which the apostle uses it in these chapters, signifies a _charitable gift_; here it certainly has the same meaning: God is able to give you, in his mercy... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:9. _HE HATH DISPERSED ABROAD_] Here is still the allusion to the _sower_. He _sows much_; not at _home_ merely, or among those with whom he is _acquainted_, but _abroad_-among the _strangers_, whether of his own or of another nation. The quotation is taken from Psalms 112:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:10. _NOW HE THAT MINISTERETH SEED TO THE SOWER_] The _sower_, as we have already seen, is he that _gives alms_ of what he hath; and God, who requires him to give these alms, is here represented as _providing_ him with the _means_. As in the creation, if God had not created the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:11. _BEING ENRICHED IN EVERY THING_] Observe, Why does God give riches? That they may be applied to his glory, and the good of men. Why does he _increase_ riches? That those who have them may _exercise all bountifulness_. And if they be _enriched in_ _every thing_, what will b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:12. _FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS SERVICE_] The poor are relieved, see the hand of God in this relief, and give God the glory of his grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:13. _BY THE EXPERIMENT OF THIS MINISTRATION_] In this, and in the preceding and following verses, the apostle enumerates the good _effects_ that would be produced by their _liberal_ _almsgiving_ to the poor saints at Jerusalem. 1. The wants of the saints would be supplied. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _THE EXCEEDING GRACE OF GOD IN YOU._] By the υπερβαλλουσαν χαριν, _superabounding_ or _transcending grace, of_ _God, which was in them_, the apostle most evidently means the _merciful_ and _charitable disposition_ which they had towards the suffering saints. The whole connection, indeed th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 9:15. _THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT._] Some contend that Christ only is here intended; others, that the almsgiving is meant. After all the difference of commentators and preachers, it is most evident that the ανεκδιηγητος δωρεα, _unspeakable gift_, is precisely t... [ Continue Reading ]