Introductory remarks:
Paul continues his teaching on Christian giving. "Paul says he knows he doesn't need to urge them to give, in fact his bragging about their willingness inspired the Macedonians. But if he brings some Macedonians with him to visit and the offering is not ready it will cause him and the Corinthians some embarrassment. God will bless them for their cheerful giving. Not only are they helping the needy but also causing God to be praised and love to grow" (A Survey of 2 Corinthians - By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: The offering for the Saints vv. 1-15.
The Offering for the Saints
Verse 1, "For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you."
LGT "For concerning the service which [is] for the saints, for me it is superfluous writing to you."
Paul says here that he does not feel the need to write to them about ministering to their fellow saints; however, he will because all need to be reminded from time to time, so that we do not forget that when we relieve the suffering of our brothers and sisters in the lord, we are ministering to the glory of the Lord.
Verse 2, "For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many."
LGT "For I know your readiness which I boast on behalf of you to Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared a year ago, and your zeal has motivated a greater number."
For I know your readiness: Paul says that he was aware of their eagerness to help in the aid of the poor saints in Jerusalem. Which I boast of you to Macedonians: Paul was so sure of their willingness to give their donations, that he speaks to the Macedonians as if it had already taken place. That Achaia was ready a year ago: Paul says that Achaia had already prepared their contribution a year before.
Barnes makes this historical note:
"Achaia was that part of Greece of which Corinth was the capital. It is probable that there were Christians in other parts of Achaia besides Corinth, and indeed it is known that there was a church in Cenchrea (see Rom. 16:1), which was one of the ports of Corinth. Though the contribution would be chiefly derived from Corinth, yet it is probable that the others also would participate in it. The phrase 'was ready' means that they had been preparing themselves for this collection, and doubtless Paul had stated that the collection was already made and waiting. He had directed them (1 Cor. 16:1) to make it on the first day of the week, and to lay it by in store, and he did not doubt that they had complied with his request."
And your zeal: the Corinthian prompt actions were a witness to the other churches. Has motivated a greater number: The word "provoked" in the KJV means "to exciting or arousing", that is why I used has motivated in my LGT. The promptness and willingness of the Corinthians motivated the other churches to follow suite.
Verse 3, "Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready."
LGT "But I sent the brethren, lest our boasting which [is] on your behalf be made void in this respect, that just as I said, ye may be prepared."
But I sent the brethren: the brethren referred to in the last chapter. Lest our boasting, which is on your behalf: that you were ready and eager to contribute to the poor saints in Judea. Be made void in this respect: that the collection of your donation not be secured. That just as I said: in my boasting of you. Ye may be prepared: that ye may be really prepared without hesitation.
Verse 4, "Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not) should be ashamed in the same confident boasting."
LGT "Lest perhaps if Macedonians should come with me, and find you unprepared, we should be put to shame (that we may not say ye), in this confidence."
Paul says that when he comes, if he should bring some of the Macedonians with him, and find the Corinthians unprepared by not making a collection, he would be very embarrassed, and his boasting would have been for nothing.
Verse 5, "Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness."
LGT "Therefore I esteemed it necessary to exhort the brethren, in order that they should go before unto you, and should complete beforehand this your fore-announced blessing to be ready, thus as a blessing, and not as [of] covetousness."
Therefore I esteemed it necessary to exhort the brethren: forewarn them. In order that they should go before unto you: to avoid any embarrassment on both our parts. And should complete beforehand this your fore-announced blessing to be ready: so that you will be prepared with the blessing you have already said you would contribute. I find it interesting the Greek word for "bounty", as in the KJV, is blessing. What a turn it puts on their giving, that it is a blessing, and not something required; Paul never told them how much they were to give, he simply told them to give freely, and from a giving mind. Thus as a blessing: their giving must be part of the blessing of their complete service; it was to be cheerfully: and not as of covetousness: Paul did not want them to think that it was covetousness on his part, as if he had to wring it out of them, as some responsibility; remember, giving is a blessed privilege, and never a responsibility. Our Christian service must always be in grace as a privilege of being royal family members.
Verse 6, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully."
LGT "But this [I say], the one who sows sparingly, sparingly also shall reap, and the one who sows with blessings, with blessings also shall reap."
Paul uses the farmer sowing seeds as his example. The farmer sows the seed into the earth, and the seed lies dormant, and then rots; after it rots it springs forth its shoots above the earth, and begins its growth. The farmer doesn't despair because he doesn't see immediate results, because he has done this before, and has benefited from his farming. Now Paul is not saying, as so many pastors say today, "you can't out-give God", but he is stressing the blessedness of giving; I am reminded of the saying of one of the Lords in England had put on his gravestone: "What I kept, I lost, and what I gave I kept." I honestly believe that our giving to help our unfortunate brothers and sisters is a blessing in itself; if you don't find it a thrill to help other family members, you should not help, because Paul teaches that we should give cheerfully. The spiritual blessing in giving is the only reward we must expect; however, I do believe giving from the proper motive will receive from our heavenly Father a well done.
Verse 7, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or out of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
LGT "Each according as he has purposed in the heart, not grievingly, or of necessity: for a cheerful giver God loves."
Each according as he has purposed in the heart: the verb "purpose" is in the perfect middle voice, and it means to have purposed beforehand. The heart refers to the mind where the will of man reigns supreme. Not grievingly: if a man would rather keep his gift, he should never give, for that is the definition of giving grudgingly. Or out of necessity: a man should not give if he feels that he needs to, that is, if he gives as he sorrows for giving the gift. The gift should be just that, a gift. A man should never think back later and sorrow over having given his gift. For a cheerful giver God loves: the Greek word for "cheerful" is hilaron, from which we get our English word "hilarious." So when we give, it should be hilariously, that is, we would rather give than not; we should take pleasure in giving, and if not, don't give. This type of giving meets with God's delightful approval.
Verse 8, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
LGT "For God [is] able to make every grace abound to you, in order that in every [way], always having all sufficiency, ye may abound unto every good work."
For God is able: Paul assures the Corinthians that they should not feel as though they were giving up their offering, and this would leave them destitute, and that whatever they gave away, God is able much more to abound to them with His wonderful grace. To make every grace abound to you: they had already experienced God's grace in salvation as a free gift; why should they not trust Him in their giving. In order that in every way: in every thing they do in the ministry of the Lord, whether it may be giving out the gospel of grace, or this ministry of being good stewards in providing for the needy in Judea. Always having all sufficiency: this self-sufficiency is in the new man God has created unto all good works. The lesson is that they need not trust in silver or gold, or any other external thing, for God's grace is sufficient unto the day, and He is omnipresent with His grace. Ye may abound unto every good work: every good work is produced by God, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. "In this sufficiency we must abound, for the purpose of doing good to others, for the reason why God does us good is - not that every one may keep to himself what he has received, but that there may be mutual participation among us, according as necessity may require" (Calvin).
Verses 9, 10, "(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now 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;)"
LGT "Just as it has been written [and stands written], He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever. Now He that supplies seed to the one who sows, and bread for eating will supply and He will multiply your sowing, and He will increase the fruits of your righteousness."
He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever: Paul quotes Psalm 112:9. Paul uses this Psalm to verify the fact that the righteous man does these things. I believe the righteousness that Paul speaks of as lasting forever, is the results of his deeds. When we do things to please the flesh, they soon disappear; however, when we do works consistent with God's Word, these things are eternal. Now He that supplies seed to the one who sows: man cannot take credit for supplying the seed; all man can do is plant the seed; man cannot even cause the seed to grow; God always gives the increase, so what has man to glory in; for the Creator is the one who should be praised. God supplies the seed for the harvest, and then the harvest is then able to give him more seed, in order that the giving may be perpetuated. And Bread for eating will supply: God supplies their every need, both physical and spiritual. And He will multiply your sowing: cause their giving to continue. And He will increase the fruits of your righteousness: this is obviously the fruits of their giving, and Paul wishes that they may be able to continue their benevolence from a positive attitude toward their Christian friends in Judea.
Verse 11, "Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God."
LGT "In every [way] being enriched to all liberality, which works out through us thanksgiving to God."
In every way being enriched to all liberality: the Corinthians were enriched liberally, but not for their physical pleasures but for the glory of God. Which works out through us thanksgiving to God: God receives all the glory for their liberality in giving; whenever the motive of giving is because of God's love for them, it produces the proper thanksgiving to the God who made it all possible through His enriching them. The beneficiaries of your liberal giving will properly thank God for you.
Verse 12. "For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgiving unto God."
LGT "Because the service of this administration not only is completely filling up the deficiency of the saints, but also abounding through many thanksgiving to God."
Because the service of this administration: the ministry of their contribution. Not only is filling up the deficiency of the saints: ministering to their needs by supplying their physical needs. The contribution from the Corinthians added to the contribution from the other churches, servicing to the Poor saints in Judea. But also abounding through many thanksgiving to God: the result of their liberality brought praise and honor to God, who really did the supplying from the seed onward. "The need of the poor is filled, like an empty vessel, to the brim, and the supply overflows in the thanksgiving it calls out. Thus Christian beneficence does a double work, in giving relief and in generating thankfulness" (Vincent).
Verse 13, "Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men."
LGT "Through the proof of this service [they] glorify God upon the obedience of your confession, to the Glad Tidings of Christ, and liberality of the contribution towards them, and unto all."
Through the proof of this service: your service to the needs of the poor saints. By contributing to them, the Corinthians all prove their love for the saints in Judea. They glorify God upon your obedience of your confession: they praise God for your obedience to the Word of God, which declares that when you love one another they prove you love God, and this cannot do anything but bring honor and praise to God. To the Glad Tidings of Christ: their subjection to the gospel of grace was the magnificent motivator in their making this contribution. And liberality of the contribution towards them, and unto all: the true evidence that they were subjected to the gospel of grace was their beneficence and liberality to all in need.
Verse 14, "And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you."
LGT "And in their supplication for you, a longing for you, on account of the surpassing grace of God upon you."
And in their supplication for you: their earnest prayers for their welfare accompanied the gift to the Corinthians. This type of prayer was a bond with these poor saints and the Corinthians in sweet Christian fellowship. A longing for you: an earnest care for their welfare; the Corinthians didn't pray, "go in peace and be filled". They actually sent them their gifts of grace so that they would be filled. On account of the surpassing grace of God upon you: without the surpassing grace of God, these Corinthian Christians would not have been stirred to help these poor saints. Every good deed done by any Christian must essentially be traced back to God, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Verse 15, "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift."
LGT "Thanks be to God for His indescribable free gift."
The unsearchable free gift of God to us is His only begotten Son, who purchased our salvation with His own blood. We may speak of giving gifts to our friends, but no gift is even a gift compared to what God gave us who believe. This free gift of God is indescribable, so I can only say with Paul, "Thanks be to God forever!" (Amen - so be it).
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