“2 Corinthians 9:1-5”

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

"For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence. So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness."

---End of Scripture---

While chapter 8 discussed the specific details of the arrangement as well as the precautions set in motion, chapter 9 deals more with the why. The why is twofold: so as not to bring dishonor on the church nor to bring discredit on the boasts Paul made on Corinth’s behalf. He had just explained that he didn’t want anyone to make accusations that he handled the money improperly (8:16-23) and now he proceeds to ensure the Corinthians are ready to give super-abundantly and super-selflessly.

VERSE 1 - Ministering (GREEK: diakoneo) is a common theme in Second Corinthians (8:4, 20; 9:1, 12f; cf. Luke 22:26-27). "For it is superfluous for me to write to you..." suggests several possibilities. It may be that the Corinthians are already intimately acquainted with the situation which could certainly be the case as the collection was a year in the making. It could also be that Paul feels his letter at this point to be getting redundant or that he may be “beating a dead horse”. Regardless of how we understand the phrasing, we know that Paul wants to ensure that Corinth fully understands the need.

VERSE 2 - In 8:1-5, Macedonia is given as an example to Corinth. Here we see that Paul initially held the Corinthians up as Macedonia’s example and motivation. How the tables have turned! The perfect tense of "ready" implies that the preparedness and forwardness of mind is still there. Again, we reiterate that this collection had been a year in the making (compare 8:10) and Corinth had made big promises. Notably, Paul uses the provincial titles for both Macedonia and Achaia. This is probably to include several congregations that are participating in each area (cf. 1:2; Rom. 15:26; 16:1), or perhaps Paul is using synecdoche. Because of Corinth’s zeal, most had been stirred up (Greek: erethise – only used 2x in the New Testament and the other usage - Colossians 3:21 - is negative in connotation).

VERSES 3-4 - Paul anticipated that the brethren needed someone to stir them up to complete the task so he sends the brethren to help them out. Verse 3-4 contain four purpose clauses in one long sentence.

1) So Paul’s boasting is not in vain.

2) So their deeds would confirm their love as expressed in Paul’s boasting (8:19; 1Cor. 16:2b) while in Macedonia.

3) So that the emissaries of the churches would not find Corinth unprepared.

4) So Paul’s boasting would not be shamed (cf. 8:24; 9:2; 11:17). Paul’s use of the grammatical 3rd class condition implies a very slight risk in this happening.

VERSE 5 - Paul had exhorted the brethren to exhort Corinth by going on ahead of him. "Necessary" is placed at the beginning of the Greek sentence for emphasis. Paul elsewhere uses the same verbiage in this verse to describe their bounty which was a free will offering (Romans 15:26). As a free will offering, there should have been no covetousness, which interestingly, Paul is accused of by some at Corinth (7:2; 12:17-18). Paul did not want them to give as little as possible or just to appease him.

Please read 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 for tomorrow!

Have a blessed day!

- By Eric Parker

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