2 Corinthians · Berean Standard Bible
2 Corinthians 9 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.
1 Περὶ μὲν γὰρ τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους περισσόν μοί ἐστι τὸ γράφειν ὑμῖν·
2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.
2 οἶδα γὰρ τὴν προθυμίαν ὑμῶν ἣν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καυχῶμαι Μακεδόσιν, ὅτι Ἀχαΐα παρεσκεύασται ἀπὸ πέρυσι· καὶ ὁ ἐξ ὑμῶν ζῆλος ἠρέθισε τοὺς πλείονας.
3 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.
3 ἔπεμψα δὲ τοὺς ἀδελφούς, ἵνα μὴ τὸ καύχημα ἡμῶν τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν κενωθῇ ἐν τῷ μέρει τούτῳ, ἵνα, καθὼς ἔλεγον, παρεσκευασμένοι ἦτε,
4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.
4 μήπως ἐὰν ἔλθωσι σὺν ἐμοὶ Μακεδόνες καὶ εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους, καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς, ἵνα μὴ λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς, ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ τῆς καυχήσεως.
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the bountiful gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.
5 ἀναγκαῖον οὖν ἡγησάμην παρακαλέσαι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἵνα προέλθωσιν εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ προκαταρτίσωσι τὴν προκατηγγελμένην εὐλογίαν ὑμῶν, ταύτην ἑτοίμην εἶναι, οὕτως ὡς εὐλογίαν καὶ μὴ ὡς πλεονεξίαν.
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
6 Τοῦτο δέ, ὁ σπείρων φειδομένως φειδομένως καὶ θερίσει, καὶ ὁ σπείρων ἐπ᾽ εὐλογίαις ἐπ᾽ εὐλογίαις καὶ θερίσει.
7 Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
7 ἕκαστος καθὼς προαιρεῖται τῇ καρδία, μὴ ἐκ λύπης ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης· ἱλαρὸν γὰρ δότην ἀγαπᾷ ὁ Θεός.
8 And 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.
8 δυνατὸς δὲ ὁ Θεὸς πᾶσαν χάριν περισσεῦσαι εἰς ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἐν παντὶ πάντοτε πᾶσαν αὐτάρκειαν ἔχοντες περισσεύητε εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθόν,
9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
9 καθὼς γέγραπται· ἐσκόρπισεν, ἔδωκε τοῖς πένησιν· ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.
10 ὁ δὲ ἐπιχορηγῶν σπέρμα τῷ σπείροντι καὶ ἄρτον εἰς βρῶσιν χορηγήσαι καὶ πληθύναι τὸν σπόρον ὑμῶν καὶ αὐξήσαι τὰ γενήματα τῆς δικαιοσύνης ὑμῶν·
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God.
11 ἐν παντὶ πλουτιζόμενοι εἰς πᾶσαν ἁπλότητα, ἥτις κατεργάζεται δι᾽ ἡμῶν εὐχαριστίαν τῷ Θεῷ·
12 For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
12 ὅτι ἡ διακονία τῆς λειτουργίας ταύτης οὐ μόνον ἐστὶ προσαναπληροῦσα τὰ ὑστερήματα τῶν ἁγίων, ἀλλὰ καὶ περισσεύουσα διὰ πολλῶν εὐχαριστιῶν τῷ Θεῷ· —
13 Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.
13 διὰ τῆς δοκιμῆς τῆς διακονίας ταύτης δοξάζοντες τὸν Θεὸν ἐπὶ τῇ ὑποταγῇ τῆς ὁμολογίας ὑμῶν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἁπλότητι τῆς κοινωνίας εἰς αὐτοὺς καὶ εἰς πάντας,
14 And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
14 καὶ αὐτῶν δεήσει ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἐπιποθούντων ὑμᾶς διὰ τὴν ὑπερβάλλουσαν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐφ᾽ ὑμῖν.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
15 χάρις δὲ τῷ Θεῷ ἐπὶ τῇ ἀνεκδιηγήτῳ αὐτοῦ δωρεᾷ.
Cross references (15)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Galatians 6:10; 2 Corinthians 8:4–15; 1 Thessalonians 4:9–10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; Galatians 2:10
- 2 2 Corinthians 8:10; 2 Corinthians 8:8; 2 Corinthians 8:24; 1 Corinthians 16:15; Hebrews 10:24
- 3 2 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 9:4–5; 1 Corinthians 16:1–4; 2 Corinthians 7:14; 2 Corinthians 8:17–24
- 4 Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:1–5; 2 Corinthians 11:17; 2 Corinthians 8:24; 2 Corinthians 9:2
- 5 Genesis 33:11; 1 Samuel 25:27; Philippians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 8:6; Judges 1:15
- 6 Proverbs 11:24–25; Luke 6:38; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 19:17; 2 Corinthians 9:10
- 7 2 Corinthians 8:12; Acts 20:35; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Proverbs 11:25; Exodus 25:2
- 8 Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:18–19; Proverbs 10:22; Malachi 3:10; Haggai 2:8
- 9 Psalm 112:9; Psalm 112:3; Proverbs 21:21; Proverbs 8:18; Galatians 5:5–6
- 10 Isaiah 55:10; Hosea 10:12; 2 Corinthians 9:6; Ecclesiastes 11:6; Proverbs 11:18
- 11 1 Timothy 6:17–18; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Chronicles 29:12–14; 2 Corinthians 9:12; Proverbs 3:9–10
- 12 Philemon 4–7; 2 Corinthians 8:14–15; Philippians 2:25; James 2:14–16; 1 John 3:17
- 13 Hebrews 13:16; Matthew 5:16; Galatians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Peter 2:9
- 14 Philippians 4:1; 1 Timothy 1:14; 2 Timothy 1:16–18; Philippians 4:18–19; 2 Corinthians 8:6–7
- 15 2 Corinthians 2:14; John 3:16; Ephesians 5:20; Romans 8:32; James 1:17
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Though he had said so much about it, he says here, "It is superfluous for me to write to you." And his wisdom is shown not only in this, that though he had said so much about it, he saith, "it is superfluous for me to write to you," but in that he yet again speaketh of it.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
… to the end shall be saved." They grieve for sin, hearing that "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." They rejoice in good works, because they hear that "the Lord loveth a cheerful giver." In like manner, according as they are strong or weak, they fear or desire to …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Because then also, when things were desperate, there was a sort of deliverance and reformation; but then by punishment, now, on the contrary, by grace and an unspeakable gift. Therefore the dove also appears, not bearing an olive branch, but pointing out to us our Deliverer from all evils, and suggesting the gracious hopes.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Then, as to what He says, "From him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away," it is to be referred to the mind; for God loveth a cheerful giver. Moreover, every one who accepts anything borrows, even if he himself is not going to pay it; for inasmuch as God pays back more to the merciful, whosoever does …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
"That, always having all sufficiency, we may abound unto every good work." See how they fulfill that word of the gospel which saith, "Give us this day our daily bread," and how they seek even this for spiritual ends.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)