Chapter IX.
(Vers. 1, 2.)
(Vers. 1, 2.) For it is unnecessary for me to write to you about the ministry that is carried out among the saints; for I know your willingness, for which I boast about you to the Macedonians. And these are words of encouragement. Indeed, it is unnecessary for him to write about the ministry that is carried out among the saints in order to appear well-disposed towards them, for it is superfluous to remind someone who you know will do it. But in order to demonstrate his diligence, it is necessary for him to write, and to make them more ready, and to make known what he says about the others. For things that are unnecessary tend to produce greater anxiety; for even the Lord, not doubting Peter's love for Him, asked him a third time: Simon son of John, do you love me? (John 21:17) This repetition of three times may seem unnecessary, but it is useful for the perfection of the admonition; so that Peter may know that he must take great care with diligence in fulfilling what is frequently commanded. For Achaia had been prepared since the previous year. After the Macedonians, Achaia, that is, the Church provinces of Achaia (not all, because the Corinthians are also Achaian), had prepared themselves, inspired by the emulation of the Macedonians, to minister to the saints. With these words he encourages the Corinthians even more, saying that they have been prepared since the previous year but now they should fulfill their promise to distribute their ministry according to each person's need. And their enthusiasm has inspired many others. He then mentions that he has prepared Macedonia and now he wants the Corinthians to be prepared as he had promised. The other churches also took notice of the Corinthians' enthusiasm, and when they heard that they had previously been involved in many errors but had since corrected themselves and become people of good intentions, they were motivated to do good works. For if those who had behaved poorly after receiving the faith had shown this willingness, how much more should those in whom these vices were not found show it.
(Vers. 3.)
(Verse 3.) But I sent the brothers, lest our boasting about you should prove empty in this matter, so that you might be ready, as I said. He mentions these brothers, whom I previously mentioned, namely, Titus, and those he added as assistants, who were urged more fervently to fulfill the promise in the ministry of the saints, so that they would not only be encouraged by letters, but also face to face with frequent admonitions; lest the apostle's joy, in which he was boasting about them, should be emptied. Therefore, by often recalling this, he shows his concern for them, not wanting them to be confused.
(Vers. 4.)
(Verse 4) So that when the Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we may not be ashamed— not to mention you—about this confident boasting. Therefore, I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the generous gift you had promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
(Vers. 5.)
(Verse 5) Therefore, I thought it necessary to ask the brothers to go ahead to you and prepare in advance the promised blessing, so that it would be ready as a blessing and not as an imposition. In order to show his concern even more, he said that he had asked the brothers, who had been reminded, to fulfill what they had promised but had not yet fulfilled. As he mentioned earlier, Titus volunteered to go, meaning that he was not compelled but eagerly embraced the opportunity as soon as he heard about it, in order to show his willingness to go to them because of their hope. Now the writer is indicating that he did not ask them out of reluctance to go, but rather he is affirming his affection for them when he asks them willingly to go. This is so that what both they desire and he prays for may be done without further delay. Therefore, he interacts with them in such a way that they may be faithful to his promise, and he reminds them for the sake of their reputation not to deceive; but only to offer as much as they will not regret.
(Vers. 6, 7.)
(Ver. 6, 7.) But I say this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He signifies a stingy person, from whom it is extorted, so that he may give; for he repents because he promised. This pertains to the slowness of those who long ago made promises and deliberated for a long time. For this stingy person, there is a small harvest; because he sows with hesitation; he does not know how to benefit from what he does. But he who sows in blessing will also reap in blessing. He sows in blessing, who does this with a good will under the hope of future retribution. Each person, according to the purpose of their heart, not out of sadness or necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. He teaches them to benefit in the future if it is done with a joyful spirit. Of those who give, God chooses whom to repay, those who work with a devoted heart, as if storing up treasure with God. Anyone who gives reluctantly out of present shame, so as not to be found disgraceful among others who give, will not receive a reward.
(Vers. 8.)
(Verse 8) God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. He desires that His power may be present to them, so that just as it convicts their hearts in repenting from sins and in the truth of teachings, it may also favor their endeavors, so that they may abound in every good work through God's grace. This is what He says and wishes, that in everything they may always have all sufficiency in God's guidance, and that they may not lack anything necessary for salvation. Therefore, if they choose sufficiency alone for themselves, they will be able to abound in the work of God; for by retaining what is sufficient for themselves, it is necessary to spend the rest for the use of the saints or the poor: and this will be to abound in every good work. For although what a small man gives may be little, it still abounds, because it is done with right judgment, and not only the amount is considered, but also the manner and mindset with which it is given. Finally, that widow in the Gospel (Luke 21:3) was praised for her small offering, while those who gave much were not praised. For that person's little is much, because they sent more than they could: but the rich sent less, even though they could send more; and therefore the small amount that was sent by that person, which exceeded their capabilities, was found to be more than the much of the rich; because they sent from what they had in excess. Therefore, whoever gives as much as they can, does rightly: however, that widow is held before them; because she sent all that she had.
(Vers. 9.)
(Verse 9) As it is written: He has dispersed, he has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever. This is written in the one hundred and eleventh psalm, and by way of example adds to the care of the poor; so that in every good work they may abound. For if the righteousness of him who bestows upon the poor endures forever, how much more so the righteousness of him who ministers to the holy ones? For the poor can be called those who are publicly needy: the holy ones, however, are distinguished from these, because they are servants of God, devoting themselves to prayers and fasts, leading a pure life, as Anna the prophetess also did (Luke 2:37), who did not depart from the temple, serving with fasts and prayers day and night, setting aside all worldly care. Mercy, therefore, is called justice; because knowing that He who bestows all things is God, who gives to all in common, since His sun rises for all, and it rains on all, and He has given the earth to all: therefore, He shares with those who do not have an abundance of land, so that they may not seem deprived of God's blessings. Therefore, the just person is one who does not keep for himself alone what he knows has been given to all; and the just person is not only just in this time, but also in eternity; because in the future age, he will have this with him forever.
(Vers. 10, 11.)
(Verse 10, 11.) But he who provides seed to the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God. Everything is from God, and the seeds and the things that grow are by God's providence, and they are multiplied for the use of humans. Therefore, God, who gives these things, also commands that they be shared with those in need; and through this, the one who gives according to God's will cannot be without an increase by God's providence to multiply the harvest of righteousness, for the giver adds to him so that he may have more to give. This is justice, that as God gives, one may repay from it, both to God and to one who lacks. For God desires these to be ministers to those who, choosing higher things, despise the riches of the present time, devoting themselves wholly to the things of God. For to each person, according to their good will, God grants aid; for those who desire nothing else here but to have sustenance and clothing, God has appointed guardians for those who desire to have these things, so that those who serve them well and sincerely may be enriched by the will of God, so that they may have something to give abundantly always, both in the present and in the future. For whoever sows once, will reap twice; so that if he considers future hopes, he does not want to have them subjected, but rather inclines himself to them; because he will receive a reward from God for this. For if he wants to humiliate them in the present, he loses hope for the future; for here he receives a reward for his work, not acting simply, as the Lord says: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward (Matthew 6:16).
(Vers. 12, 13.)
(Verse 12, 13.) Which works through us thanksgiving to God. Because the ministry of this service not only supplies what is lacking for the saints, but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God through the proof of this ministry, glorifying God by your obedient confession to the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with others, while they themselves long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. But thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift. This he says because whoever works through the stewards of God's gift, this work by which thanks are given to God, is not subject to begging but to God, from whose goods they know themselves to be nourished: not only are thanks given to them, but to the other brothers who, giving thanks to God, commend their work to the Lord; so that by giving to a few, they may be commended to God by the prayers of many. For by testing their minds in this work, they magnify the Lord in them, in whom they are strengthened by hope, obeying the Gospel of Christ with a submissive mind, so that they may not desire to be humiliated by them, but rather provide what is necessary for the saints. And this will be a gratitude for their sincere communication, commending themselves to their prayers and desires. For who would not desire to see their needs subjugated for the sake of God's name? Finally, the gifts of God are called; for it is God who gives to those who serve Him; because He who commands to be done is credited for what is given. But giving thanks to God in these things, and above all for His unspeakable gift. For the gift of God is what moves men to good works; for the promised hope incites to the aforementioned service.