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| Chapter 9 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you. 2 For I know the forwardness of your thinking, for which I boast of you to those of Macedonia that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath called forth very many. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you on this account should be in vain, that, as I said, ye may be ready; 4 lest it might happen, if those of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared, that we (that we say not "ye") should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go ahead unto you and make up your bounty beforehand (whereof ye had notice beforehand), that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 6 ¶ But this I say: He who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he who soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 As every man purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or out of compulsion; for God loveth the cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever." 10 Now may He that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 ye being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also in much thanksgiving unto God, 13 while by the experience of this ministration they glorify God for your freely declared subjection unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them and unto all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, they who long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift! |
Paul continues to encourage the Corinthians church in their giving, it seemed strange that they had received so much from God yet were not prepared to share with others. v1-5 Encouraging others. In Heb 10:23-25 we are told not to be in competition with each other, Paul had at one time used the Corinthian church to encourage the Macedonia churches, but now he is using it the opposite way, using Macedonia to challenge the Corinthians. Paul had already sent instructions on how to make the collection, 1 Cor 16:1-4, The Corinthians had boasted of their giving but nothing had appeared. Paul was afraid that his boasting of the Corinthians share would mis-fire on him. Paul wanted the collection to have been made by the time he arrived, to save the church any embarrassment, to this end he had sent Titus and some others to Corinth to encourage the giving. The church was sure to benefit from the ‘grace’ of giving spiritually. v1 Note that Paul called it a "ministering to the saints," a service to other believers. v6-11 You will be blessed. Jesus made a promise in Luke 6:38, this still holds true, the ‘return’ that God gives may not be in money or material, but He promised more than we gave. We must remember that our grace giving is not done just to get more back, we are doing it to please and glorify God. v6 What ever you sow you will reap, the more we put into the Lord’s work the more He will bless us. Phil 4:19. Remember what God did if you feel not to give, Rom 8:32. v7 Why do you give? the reason for your giving is also very important, it must come from the heart in love. v8-11 A farmer, when he plants the seed, has to wait many months to get the harvest, but God is able to send the ‘return’ from the first giving, there can be no delay. v9 God’s righteousness is given as a ‘return.’ v10 You will reap what you sow, but God is able to supply all your needs so unlike a farmer, a poor harvest this year does not mean less seed to sow the next year. v11 God can give a blessing to a person and this will help others. As a result of this God will be glorified. You cannot out give God. v12 Paul sees this giving as a spiritual sacrifice, just as an Old Testament priest offers a thanks sacrifice to God. Christians do not offer animals as thanks gifts but the giving of material gifts can also be a gift of thanks. v13 Giving will glorify God, Matt 5:16. "liberal distribution unto them and unto all men," Paul wants the gift to be spread between the Jewish churches to help all those in need. v14,15 Giving helps remove any splits in the churches, The Jewish church was very different in culture to the Gentile church, it was easy to split the churches but this gift will unite the Body of Christ. |
Easy English Translation
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| The 2nd Letter to Corinthians |
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| Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 |
| Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 |
| Chapter 13 | Introduction page |
