2 Corinthians 9
9
The Offering for Needy Believers
1Actually, there’s no need to write to you about this contribution for the holy believers in Jerusalem, 2for I already know that you are on board and eager to help. # 9:2 The Aramaic can be translated “I know the goodness of your impulses” (or “intentions”). Paul was not hesitant to point out the obvious qualities and virtues of others. I keep boasting to the churches of Macedonia about your passion to give, telling them that the believers of Corinth # 9:2 Or “Achaia,” the Roman province where Corinth was situated. have been preparing to give for a year. Your enthusiasm is contagious—it has stirred many of them to do likewise. 3Still, I thought it would be best to send these brothers to receive the offering that you’ve prepared, so that our boasting about how you were ready to give would not be found hollow. 4For if, after boasting of our confidence in you, some of the Macedonians were to come with me and find that you were not prepared, we would be embarrassed—to say nothing of you. 5That’s why I’ve requested that the brothers come before I do and make arrangements in advance for the substantial offering you pledged. Then it will be seen as a matter of generosity and not under pressure, as something you felt forced to do.
Hilarious Generosity
6Here’s my point. A stingy sower # 9:6 The Aramaic can be translated “the one who sows with a storehouse of seed” (remaining). This describes a farmer who is stingy with his sowing. Since he has a storehouse of seed, he can afford to sow liberally. will reap a meager harvest, but the one who sows from a generous spirit will reap an abundant harvest. 7Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity! # 9:7 See Prov. 22:8 (LXX). There are seven things in the Bible that God loves: (1) the resident foreigner or immigrant (Deut. 10:19), (2) righteousness in our affairs with others (Ps. 11:7), (3) justice (Ps. 37:28), (4) the gates of Zion (Ps. 87:2), (5) his righteous people (Ps. 146:8), (6) a hilarious or cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7), and (7) those he disciplines (Heb. 12:6). 8Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything # 9:8 The Greek word Paul uses is autarkeia, and it is found in classical Greek as meaning “independently wealthy, needing nothing.” See Aristotle, Pol. 1. 8, 14. —every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do. 9Just as the Scriptures say about the one who trusts in him:
Because he has sown extravagantly and given to the poor,
his kindness and generous deeds will never be forgotten. # 9:9 See Ps. 112:9.
10This generous God who supplies abundant seed # 9:10 The Greek word epichorēgeo is used in Greek literature for someone who pays all expenses for the drama/choir (production), plus more, providing income for those who take part. God is seen as the leader of the divine choir, orchestrating everything and providing all that is needed to bring forth the sounds of his glory on the earth. for the farmer, which becomes bread for our meals, # 9:10 See Isa. 55:10. is even more extravagant toward you. First he supplies # 9:10 The Greek word is chorēgeo (see the first footnote on this verse). every need, plus more. Then he multiplies the seed as you sow it, so that the harvest of your generosity # 9:10 Or “righteousness,” used in this context as “generosity” (or “righteous works” of benevolence). will grow. 11You will be abundantly enriched in every way as you give generously on every occasion, # 9:11 Or “You will always be rich enough to be generous at all times.” for when we take your gifts to those in need, # 9:11 Or “through us.” it causes many to give thanks to God.
12The priestly ministry # 9:12 The Greek word leitourgia (similar to “liturgy”) is used in Luke 1:23 for the priestly ministry of Zechariah in the temple. you are providing through your offering not only supplies what is lacking for God’s people, it inspires an outpouring # 9:12 Or “a superabounding.” of praises and thanksgiving to God himself. 13For as your extremely generous offering meets the approval # 9:13 Or “passes the test.” of those in Jerusalem, it will cause them to give glory to God—all because of your loyal support and allegiance to the gospel of Christ, as well as your generous-hearted partnership with them toward those in need. 14Because of this extraordinary grace, which God has lavished on you, they will affectionately remember you in their prayers. 15Praise God for his astonishing gift, which is far too great for words! # 9:15 The Greek and Aramaic texts have a clean break at this point. This has caused some scholars to conclude that chs. 10–13 may have originally been separated from the earlier chapters, which could imply that the following four chapters make up the missing letter of Paul to the Corinthians. If this is so, when reading 2 Corinthians, one could begin with chs. 10–13 (Paul’s missing letter), then read from chs. 1–9. The term for this is “appending”; that is, taking an earlier document and adding a later manuscript to it. Yet in this case, the earlier document is appended.
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2 Corinthians 9: TPT
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