---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  2 Corinthians 9"
description: "CHAPTER 9   :-. REASONS FOR
HIS SENDING
TITUS. THE
GREATER THEIR
BOUNTIFULNESS, THE MORE
SHALL BE
THE RETURN OF
BLESSING TO THEM,
AND THANKSGIVING TO
GOD."
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/2-corinthians/9"
---

CHAPTER 9

. REASONS FOR
HIS SENDING
TITUS. THE
GREATER THEIR
BOUNTIFULNESS, THE MORE
SHALL BE
THE RETURN OF
BLESSING TO THEM,
AND THANKSGIVING TO
GOD.

**1. For**—connected with : "Show love to the messengers of the churches; for as
concerns the ministration for the saints, it is superfluous for me to
*write* to you who are so forward already."
**write**—emphatical: It is
superfluous to "write," for you will have witnesses present
[BENGEL].

**2. ready a year ago**—to send
off the money, owing to the apostle's former exhortation ([1 Corinthians 16:1](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/16/1);
[1 Corinthians 16:2](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/16/2)).
**your zeal**—*Greek,*
"the zeal from you," that is, on your part; propagated from
you to others.
**provoked**—that is,
stimulated.
**very many**—*Greek,*
"the greater number," namely, of the Macedonians.

**3. have I sent**—we should say,
"I send"; whereas the ancients put it in the past, the time
which it would be by the time that the letter arrived.
**the brethren**— ([2 Corinthians 8:18](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/8/18);
[2 Corinthians 8:22](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/8/22)) —Titus and the two
others.
**should be in vain in this
behalf**—"should be proved futile *in this particular,*"
however true in general ([2 Corinthians 7:4](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/7/4)).
A tacit compliment, softening the sharp monition.
**as I said**—as I was
saying ([2 Corinthians 9:2](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/9/2)).

**4. if they of Macedonia**—rather
as *Greek,* "if Macedonians."
**unprepared**—with your
collection; see [2 Corinthians 9:2](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/9/2),
"ready," *Greek,* "prepared."
**we, not to say ye**—*Ye*
would naturally feel more ashamed for yourselves, than we (who
boasted of you) would for you.
**confident boasting**—The
oldest manuscripts read simply "confidence," namely, in
your liberality.

**5. that they would go
before**—Translate, "that they *should,*" c.
**whereof ye had notice
before**—rather, "promised before" "long announced
by me to the Macedonians" () [BENGEL]. "Your
promised bounty" [ELLICOTT
and others].
**not as*****of*****covetousness**—Translate, "not as matter of covetousness,"
which it would be, if you gave niggardly.

**6.*****I say*******—ELLICOTT and others
supply the ellipsis thus: "But *remember* this."
**bountifully**—literally,
"*with,*" or "*in blessings.*" The word
itself implies a *beneficent spirit in the giver* (compare , end), and the *plural* implies the *abundance* and
liberality of the gifts. "The reaping shall correspond to the
proportions and spirit of the sowing" [BENGEL].
Compare [Ezekiel 34:26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/26), "Showers
of blessing."

**7. according as he purposeth in his
heart**—Let the full consent of the free will go with the gift
[ALFORD]. Opposed to "of
necessity," as "grudgingly" is opposed to "a
*cheerful* giver" ([Proverbs 22:9](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/9);
[Proverbs 11:25](../../../kjv/proverbs/11/25); [Isaiah 32:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/32/8)).

**8. all grace**—even in external
goods, and even while ye bestow on others [BENGEL].
**that**—"in order
that." God's gifts are bestowed on us, not that we may have them
to ourselves, but that we may the more "abound in good works"
to others.
**sufficiency**—so as not
to need the help of others, having yourselves from God "bread
for your food" ([2 Corinthians 9:10](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/9/10)).
**in all*****things*******—*Greek,* "in everything."
**every good work**—of
charity to others, which will be "your seed sown" ([2 Corinthians 9:10](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/9/10)).

**9. As it is written**—realizing
the highly blessed character portrayed in .
**He**—the "good man"
([Psalms 112:5](../../../kjv/psalms/112/5)).
**dispersed**—as seed sown
with full and open hand, without anxious thought in what direction
each grain may fall. It is implied also that he *has* always
what he may disperse [BENGEL].
So in [Psalms 112:9](../../../kjv/psalms/112/9).
**the poor**—The *Greek*
word is found here only in New Testament, "one in straitened
circumstances, who earns his bread by labor." The word usually
employed means "one so poor as to live by begging."
**his righteousness**—Here
"beneficence": the evidence of his being *righteous*
before God and man. Compare [Deuteronomy 24:13](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/24/13);
[Matthew 6:1](../../../kjv/matthew/6/1), "alms"; *Greek,*
"righteousness."
**remaineth**—unexhausted
and unfailing.

**10.** Translate, as in , "He that ministereth (supplieth) seed to the sower
and bread for food" (literally, "bread for *eating*").
**minister**—rather future,
as the oldest manuscripts, "*Shall* minister (supply) and
multiply."
**your seed**—your means
for liberality.
**the fruits of your
righteousness**—the heavenly rewards for your Christian charity
([Matthew 10:42](../../../kjv/matthew/10/42)). Righteousness
shall be itself the reward, even as it is the thing rewarded ([Hosea 10:12](../../../kjv/hosea/10/12);
[Matthew 5:6](../../../kjv/matthew/5/6); [Matthew 6:33](../../../kjv/matthew/6/33)).

**11.** Compare .
**bountifulness**—*Greek,*
"single-minded liberality." Translated "simplicity,"
[Romans 12:8](../../../kjv/romans/12/8).
**causeth through us**—literally,
"worketh through us"; that is, through our instrumentality
as the distributors.
**thanksgiving**—on the
part of the recipients.

**12.** *Greek,* "The
*ministration* of this *public* service (on your part) is
not only *still further* supplying the wants of the saints
(besides the supplies from other quarters), but is abounding also
(namely, in respect to relieving the necessities of others in
poverty) through many thanksgivings to God."

**13. by**—through occasion of.
**experiment**—Translate,
"the experience" [ELLICOTT
and others]. Or, "the experimental proof" of your Christian
character, afforded by "this ministration."
**they**—the recipients.
**for your professed
subjection**—*Greek,* "for the subjection of your
profession"; that is, your subjection in accordance with your
profession, in relation to the Gospel. Ye yield yourselves in willing
subjection to the Gospel precepts, evinced in acts, as well as in
profession.
***your*****liberal
distribution**—*Greek,* "the liberality of your
contribution in relation to them," &c.

**14.** Translate, "Themselves
also with prayer for you, longing after you on account of the
exceeding grace of God (resting) upon you." *English Version*
is, however, good sense: They glorify God () by the experimental proof, &c., "and by their
prayer for you." But the *Greek* favors the former.

**15. his unspeakable gift**—the
gift of His own Son, which includes all other inferior gifts ([2 Corinthians 8:9](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/8/9);
[Romans 8:32](../../../kjv/romans/8/32)). If we have received
from God "His unspeakable gift," what great thing is it, if
we give a few perishing gifts for His sake?

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