But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said. But I am sending the brothersThis phrase indicates Paul's proactive approach in ensuring the readiness of the Corinthian church. The Greek word for "sending" (πέμπω, pempō) implies a deliberate and purposeful action. Paul is not merely suggesting or hoping; he is taking concrete steps to ensure that the Corinthians are prepared. The "brothers" likely refer to trusted companions of Paul, possibly Titus and others mentioned earlier in the letter, who are tasked with facilitating the collection for the Jerusalem church. This reflects the early Christian practice of communal support and the importance of accountability in church matters. in order that our boasting about you
The word "boasting" (καύχησις, kauchēsis) here is not used in a prideful or arrogant sense but rather as a confident expectation and affirmation of the Corinthians' faithfulness. Paul has previously expressed confidence in the Corinthians' willingness to contribute to the collection, and he wants to ensure that this confidence is not misplaced. This phrase underscores the relational aspect of Paul's ministry, where mutual encouragement and affirmation play a crucial role. in this matter
The "matter" refers to the collection for the saints in Jerusalem. This was a significant undertaking in the early church, representing not just financial support but also a tangible expression of unity and solidarity among diverse Christian communities. The Greek word used here (πράγμα, pragma) can also mean "business" or "affair," indicating the seriousness and importance of this endeavor. should not prove empty
The phrase "prove empty" (κενόω, kenoō) suggests the possibility of something being in vain or without result. Paul is concerned that his previous commendations of the Corinthians' generosity might turn out to be unfounded if they fail to follow through. This highlights the biblical principle that faith and intentions must be accompanied by action, as echoed in James 2:17, "faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead." but that you may be ready
The concept of readiness (ἑτοίμος, hetoimos) is central to this passage. Paul desires that the Corinthians be prepared, not just in terms of having the collection ready, but also in their hearts and minds. This readiness is a reflection of their spiritual maturity and commitment to the broader body of Christ. It serves as a reminder to believers today of the importance of being prepared to act in faith and love, responding to the needs of others as an expression of the gospel. Persons / Places / Events 1. Paul- The apostle who wrote the letter to the Corinthians, addressing issues of generosity and readiness in giving. 2. The Brothers- Likely referring to Titus and other companions of Paul, who were sent to ensure the Corinthians' readiness in their promised contribution. 3. The Corinthians- The recipients of the letter, a church in Corinth known for its spiritual gifts but also for its challenges in unity and practice. 4. Macedonia- A region whose churches were used as an example of generosity and readiness in giving. 5. Jerusalem Collection- The context of the passage, referring to the collection being gathered for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. Teaching Points The Importance of ReadinessPaul emphasizes the need for the Corinthians to be prepared, highlighting that readiness in giving reflects a heart aligned with God's purposes. Accountability in CommunitySending the brothers serves as a form of accountability, reminding us that Christian communities should support and encourage each other in fulfilling commitments. The Role of EncouragementPaul’s boasting about the Corinthians serves as encouragement, showing that positive reinforcement can motivate believers to act faithfully. Generosity as a WitnessThe readiness and generosity of the Corinthians would serve as a testimony to other churches, illustrating how our actions can inspire others in their faith journey. Faithfulness in PromisesKeeping promises, especially in the context of giving, is a reflection of integrity and faithfulness, key virtues in the Christian life. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of readiness in giving apply to our personal financial stewardship today? 2. In what ways can we hold each other accountable in our commitments within the church community? 3. How can we use encouragement to motivate others in their spiritual and practical commitments? 4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure our generosity serves as a positive witness to others? 5. How can we cultivate a spirit of faithfulness in keeping our promises, both to God and to others, in our daily lives? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Corinthians 8:6-7- Paul previously encouraged the Corinthians to excel in the grace of giving, setting the stage for the current exhortation. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4- Paul had earlier instructed the Corinthians on how to prepare for the collection, emphasizing orderly and planned giving. Philippians 4:18- Paul acknowledges the generosity of the Philippians, which serves as a model for the Corinthians. Acts 20:35- The teaching of Jesus that "it is more blessed to give than to receive," which underpins the spirit of the collection. People Corinthians, Macedonians, PaulPlaces Achaia, Corinth, MacedoniaTopics Behalf, Boast, Boasting, Brethren, Brothers, Case, Empty, Glorying, Hollow, Idle, Lest, Matter, Order, Prepared, Prove, Ready, Respect, Saying, Sending, Turn, Vain, Void, YetDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Corinthians 9:3 5661 brothers Library December 25 Evening
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.--II COR 9:15. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.--For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily PathGod's Unspeakable Gift
'Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.'--2 COR. ix. 15. It seems strange that there should ever have been any doubt as to what gift it is which evokes this burst of thanksgiving. There is but one of God's many mercies which is worthy of being thus singled out. There is one blazing central sun which shines out amidst all the galaxy of lights which fill the heavens. There is one gift of God which, beyond all others, merits the designation of 'unspeakable.' The gift of Christ draws all other …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Praise for the Gift of Gifts
"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."--2 Corinthians 9:15. IN the chapter from which my text is taken, Paul is stirring up the Christians at Corinth to be ready with liberal gifts for the poor saints at Jerusalem. He finishes by reminding them of a greater gift that any they could bring, and by this one short word of praise, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift," he sets all their hearts a-singing. Let men give as liberally as they may, you can always proclaim the value of their …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892 3D Day. All-Sufficient Grace.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "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."--2 COR. ix. 8. All-Sufficient Grace. "All-sufficiency in all things!" Believer! surely thou art "thoroughly furnished!" Grace is no scanty thing, doled out in pittances. It is a glorious treasury, which the key of prayer can always unlock, but never empty. A fountain, "full, flowing, ever flowing, overflowing." Mark these three …
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser Letter Lviii to the Duchess of Lorraine
To the Duchess of Lorraine He thanks her for kindnesses shown, and deters her from an unjust war. I thank God for your pious goodwill which I know that you have towards Him and His servants. For whenever the tiniest little spark of heavenly love is kindled in a worldly heart ennobled with earthly honours, that, without doubt, is God's gift, not man's virtue. For our part we are very glad to avail ourselves of the kind offers made to us of your bounty in your letter. But having heard of the sudden …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux 1872-1874. Letter from Rev. A. M. W. Christopher --Letter from Gulf of St. Lawrence-Mrs. Birt's Sheltering Home, Liverpool --Letter to Mrs. Merry --Letter from Canada --Miss
Letter from Rev. A. M. W. Christopher--Letter from Gulf of St. Lawrence-Mrs. Birt's Sheltering Home, Liverpool--Letter to Mrs. Merry--Letter from Canada--Miss Macpherson's return to England-- Letter of cheer for Dr. Barnardo--Removal to Hackney Home. Though human praise is not sought, we cannot but feel peculiar pleasure in giving the following testimony from a servant of the Lord so much revered as the Rev, A. M. W. Christopher of Oxford:-- "Of all the works of Christian benevolence which the great …
Clara M. S. Lowe—God's Answers How to be Admonished are those who Give Away what is their Own, and those who Seize what Belongs to Others.
(Admonition 21.) Differently to be admonished are those who already give compassionately of their own, and those who still would fain seize even what belongs to others. For those who already give compassionately of their own are to be admonished not to lift themselves up in swelling thought above those to whom they impart earthly things; not to esteem themselves better than others because they see others to be supported by them. For the Lord of an earthly household, in distributing the ranks and …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Perhaps There is no Book Within the Whole Canon of Scripture So Perplexing and Anomalous...
Perhaps there is no book within the whole canon of Scripture so perplexing and anomalous, at first sight, as that entitled "Ecclesiastes." Its terrible hopelessness, its bold expression of those difficulties with which man is surrounded on every side, the apparent fruitlessness of its quest after good, the unsatisfactory character, from a Christian standpoint, of its conclusion: all these points have made it, at one and the same time, an enigma to the superficial student of the Word, and the arsenal …
F. C. Jennings—Old Groans and New Songs The Spiced Wine of My Pomegranate;
OR, THE COMMUNION OF COMMUNICATION. I would cause Thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate."--Song of Solomon viii. 2.And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."--John i. 16. THE SPICED WINE OF MY POMEGRANATE. THE immovable basis of communion having been laid of old in the eternal union which subsisted between Christ and His elect, it only needed a fitting occasion to manifest itself in active development. The Lord Jesus had for ever delighted Himself with the …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come Meditations of the State of a Christian Reconciled to God in Christ,
Now let us see how happy a godly man is in his state of renovation, being reconciled to God in Christ. The godly man whose corrupt nature is renewed by grace in Christ and become a new creature, is blessed in a threefold respect--First, in his life; Secondly, in his death; Thirdly, after death. I. His blessedness during his life is but in part, and that consists in seven things:-- 1. Because he is conceived of the Spirit (John iii. 5), and is born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Work of the Holy Spirit
The Church of Christ. "It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is ruth."--1 John v. 6. We now proceed to discuss the work of the Holy Spirit wrought in the Church of Christ. Altho the Son of God has had a Church in the earth from the beginning, yet the Scripture distinguishes between its manifestation before and after Christ. As the acorn, planted in the ground, exists, altho it passes through the two periods of germinating and rooting, and of growing upward and forming trunk and …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit Perseverance Proved.
2. I REMARK, that God is able to preserve and keep the true saints from apostacy, in consistency with their liberty: 2 Tim. i. 12: "For the which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." Here the apostle expresses the fullest confidence in the ability of Christ to keep him: and indeed, as has been said, it is most manifest that the apostles expected …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology Sunday after Ascension Day
Text: First Peter 4, 7-11.[1] 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer: 8 above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves: for love covereth a multitude of sins: 9 using hospitality one to another without murmuring: 10 according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; 11 if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Of the Public Fast.
A public fast is when, by the authority of the magistrate (Jonah iii. 7; 2 Chron. xx. 3; Ezra viii. 21), either the whole church within his dominion, or some special congregation, whom it concerneth, assemble themselves together, to perform the fore-mentioned duties of humiliation; either for the removing of some public calamity threatened or already inflicted upon them, as the sword, invasion, famine, pestilence, or other fearful sickness (1 Sam. vii. 5, 6; Joel ii. 15; 2 Chron. xx.; Jonah iii. …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Links 2 Corinthians 9:3 NIV2 Corinthians 9:3 NLT2 Corinthians 9:3 ESV2 Corinthians 9:3 NASB2 Corinthians 9:3 KJV
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