1 Why, albeit he think well of their ready wills, 3 yet earnestly exhorteth them, 4 he yieldeth a reason: 6 He compareth alms to seed sowing, 10 which God doth repay with great gain.

For [a]as touching the ministering to the Saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.

For I know your readiness of mind, whereof I boast myself of you unto them of Macedonia, and say, that Achaia was prepared a year ago, and your zeal hath provoked many.

Now have I sent the brethren, lest our rejoicing over you should be in vain in this behalf, that ye (as I have said) be ready.

Lest if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we may not say, you) should be ashamed in this my [b]constant boasting.

Wherefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to come before unto you, and to finish your benevolence appointed afore, that it might be ready, and come as of benevolence, and not as of [c]niggardliness.

[d]This yet remember, that he which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly, and he that soweth liberally, shall reap also liberally.

As every man [e]wisheth in his heart, so let him give, not (A)[f]grudgingly, or of [g]necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all [h]grace to abound toward you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in [i]every good work,

((B)As it is written, He hath sparsed abroad and hath given to the poor: his benevolence remaineth for [j]ever.

10 Also he that findeth seed to the sower, will minister likewise bread for food, and multiply your seed, and increase the [k]fruits of your benevolence.)

11 That on all parts ye may be made rich unto all liberality, which causeth through us thanksgiving unto God.

12 [l]For the ministration of this service not only supplieth the necessities of the Saints, but also abundantly causeth many to give thanks to God,

13 (Which by the [m]experiment of this ministration praise God for your [n]voluntary submission to the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them, and to all men.)

14 And in their prayer for you, to long after you greatly, for the abundant grace of God in you.

15 [o]Thanks therefore be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:1 He wisely meeteth with the suspicion which the Corinthians might conceive, as though the Apostle in urging them so carefully, should doubt of their good will. Therefore he witnesseth that he doeth it not to teach them that they ought to help the Saints, seeing that he had become surety for them to the Macedonians, but only to stir them up which were running of themselves to the end that all things might both be in a better readiness, and also be more plentiful.
  2. 2 Corinthians 9:4 The word which he useth, signifieth such a stayedness and settledness of mind, as cannot be moved with any terror or fear.
  3. 2 Corinthians 9:5 As from covetous men.
  4. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Alms must be given neither niggardly, nor with a loathful mind, or hardly: But as frank and free alms is compared to a sowing which hath a most plentiful harvest of most abundant blessing following it.
  5. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Determineth and appointeth freely with himself.
  6. 2 Corinthians 9:7 With a sparing and niggardly heart.
  7. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Against his will, as loath to be evil reported of.
  8. 2 Corinthians 9:8 All God’s bountiful liberality.
  9. 2 Corinthians 9:8 To help others by all means possible, in doing them good in their necessities.
  10. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Is everlasting: Now David speaketh of a man that feareth God, and loveth his neighbor, who shall never want (saith he) to give to others.
  11. 2 Corinthians 9:10 There is none so good an inheritance to the godly, as bountifulness is.
  12. 2 Corinthians 9:12 Another excellent and double fruit of liberality towards the Saints, is this: that it giveth occasion to praise God, and that our faith is also thereby made manifest.
  13. 2 Corinthians 9:13 By this proof of your liberality in this helping and succoring of them.
  14. 2 Corinthians 9:13 In showing with one consent, that you acknowledge that only Gospel which you have willingly submitted yourselves unto, declaring thereby, that you agree with the Church of Jerusalem.
  15. 2 Corinthians 9:15 Lest by his great commendation and praise, the Corinthians should be puffed up, he shutteth up this exhortation, with this exclamation.

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