2 Corinthians 9:1-5 meaning

2 Corinthians 9:1-5 continues the thought from Chapter 8, where Paul exhorted the Corinthians to set aside a monetary donation to minister to needy believers in Judea and Jerusalem. Chapter 8 ended with Paul encouraging the Corinthians to give their gift “openly before the churches,” making a public display of their generosity. Pauls exhorts them in 2 Corinthians 8:24 to “show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you,” speaking of giving their gift openly.

Now Paul adds For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints (v. 1).

The ministry to the saints Paul refers to concerns the collection for the church in Jerusalem. Many speakers and writers use this technique when they seem to pass over a subject, but then they mention or explain it anyway. This is another reminder that the Corinthians need to finish what they started. They began a collection and now they need to carry it to completion.

Paul expresses confidence that this reminder is not needed. But he makes the reminder anyway to emphasize the importance of the Corinthians fulfilling their promise to fulfill their pledge.

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, Paul bragged on the generosity of the Macedonian churches as an example the Corinthians ought to follow. Now he discloses that he has bragged to the Macedonian churches about them: For I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them (v. 2).

Paul boasted to the Macedonians about the Corinthian’s readiness to be generous. Readiness carries with it eagerness and enthusiasm, which Paul consistently uses in describing the Corinthians willingness to give. In 2 Corinthians 8:4, Paul expressed that the Macedonians were also eager, saying they were “begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints.” Similarly, Paul has boasted to the Macedonian church of the readiness of the Corinthians to give to the needs of believers in Judea.

The sacrificial giving of the Macedonians described by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 was done with eagerness. Paul is reminding the Corinthians that their own desire to give has helped the Macedonians to give beyond their own ability and expectations:

That Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them (v. 2b). 

Achaia was the southern province of Greece of which Corinth was the capital city. We are not sure how many churches were in the province at the time of the writing, though Cenchrea has been mentioned. Corinth would likely have been the hub church, so it is to the Corinthians whom Paul may be directing his statement: Achaia has been prepared since last year. 

Paul is stating that he is aware and has made others aware that the Corinthians have been ready to give since the preceding year: And your zeal has stirred up most of them (v. 2c). 

We saw in 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 that Paul exhorted the Corinthians to begin setting aside an offering the first part of each week. Apparently that was the previous year. That the Corinthians began saving up an offering over a year prior would indicate an intent for the gift to be sizable.

It would seem that the Corinthians began in earnest to set aside funds for the Judeans in need. Further, in doing so, their zeal has stirred up most of the other churches. They made a great example for others to follow.

We know from the earlier chapters of 2 Corinthians that this plan was disrupted when there was trouble in the church. Evidently, their practice of gathering the offering each week was suspended. Then Paul wrote a letter of correction and Titus visited and got things straightened out (2 Corinthians 7:6-9). So, Paul has been exhorting the Corinthians to now complete the gathering of the offering they had begun (2 Corinthians 8:6).

The Corinthians’ preparation and their enthusiasm, or zeal, has stirred up or motivated the other churches to give. Even so, Paul says, but I have sent the brethren (v.3a), which would refer to Titus and the two anonymous brothers he describes in 2 Corinthians 8:18-22.

We might wonder why Paul felt it necessary to send the brethren even after his confidence and commendation of the Corinthian believers. He follows with two reasons. One is in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case (v. 3b).

Even though the Corinthians had shown the desire, eagerness, and willingness to give, Paul had spoken in terms of completion and wanted to make sure that the project was finished. His boasting to the Macedonians had helped motivate them to make a sacrificial offering and he did not want to appear as if he had manipulated them with empty praises about the Corinthians. That would be a bad example to the other churches and an embarrassment to the Corinthians.

The second reason for sending the team to collect the offering was so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared (v. 3c). He wanted the offering to be set aside and ready for the delegation, the brethren, to be able to send it on to Jerusalem when they arrived.

In 2 Corinthians 8:20-23, Paul stated that he was sending to collect the offering Titus and the two brothers having a reputation of impeccable integrity. This was so that the entire enterprise would be above reproach. He wanted to make it clear that none of the money was going into anyone’s pockets—it was only going to the intended ministry purpose.

Paul is also looking ahead to when he might come again to Corinth and of the possibility that there could be some visitors from the churches in Macedonia traveling with him when he arrives. And so he mentions this possibility: otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared (v. 4a).

Paul may be thinking of his own credibility with the Macedonian and Achaian believers. But he is also thinking of the church in Corinth and their integrity and leadership in the church in that part of the world. This is merely a statement of fact. If Paul comes and they are not prepared, they will be embarrassed and their reputation will suffer.

Paul clearly honors the reality that the Corinthians will make their own choices. God has given to each person stewardship of their decisions. Each of us can choose who to believe, what perspectives/mindsets/mental models to adopt, and what actions to take. We can be conformed to the world by adopting its perspectives and walking in its ways. Or we can choose to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and walk in God’s ways of love and service to others (Romans 12:12).

The world’s ways lead to destruction and God’s ways lead to life (Matthew 7:13-14). God states this in His word as a matter of factuality. He is being transparent to humans about the consequences built into His creation. He discloses in advance the results our choices will yield.

But He leaves the choice to us. Paul is doing something similar. He is pointing out the realities of the situation, elevating the consequences people will encounter for their decisions. But he is also honoring the reality that he cannot make choices for the Corinthians; they will make their own decisions.

He further emphasizes the consequences if the Corinthians choose not to complete the offering they pledged to the Judeans in need, saying, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence (v. 4b). 

Both Paul and the Corinthians would be put to shame if Paul’s expressed confidence in their generosity went unfulfilled. If someone did not keep their word, it could cause a deep shame beyond just embarrassment or disappointment. It could be disgrace, disrespect, or public humiliation.

By this confidence in the phrase put to shame by this confidence refers to the confidence Paul had expressed to others about the generosity and integrity of the Corinthian church. Paul had heaped boasting and praise to the other churches about the Corinthians and their grace of giving. Paul urges them to live up to their reputation.

In this case, the greater the confidence, the greater the shame if the confidence is broken: So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift (v.5a). 

The inference of go on ahead to you is that Paul himself will be coming later but first the delegation of the brethren would come. Their purpose in coming would be to arrange beforehand—to complete the arrangements for their donation—to be ready to present when Paul arrives. At that time, they could present the previously promised bountiful gift that would then be supervised by the fiduciary brethren who would see that the donation was applied to the needs of the church in Jerusalem.

The word bountiful can also be expressed as “abundant,” “generous,” or even “blessing.” The blessing would be that this is a gift that flows from the motivation of Christian love; that the primary aim was to benefit others. That this offering was previously promised infers that the Corinthians had pledged a particular amount. That would fit the context of Paul urging them to “complete” the work of setting aside the offering (2 Corinthians 8:6). This implies that there was an amount certain that would signal “the offering has been finished.”

The receiving church would be blessed, certainly by the amount, but also by the expression of the love of Christ that motivated their giving or blessing. Paul references this as he continues: so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness (v. 5b).

Paul is reminding the Corinthians of the larger context in the bountiful gift they are giving. This bountiful gift is a blessing, both for the giver and the recipient. It is a blessing to the church in Corinth which is giving the gift and for the church in Jerusalem which will be blessed by the gift.

The phrase and not affected by covetousness indicates that Titus and the two fiduciary brethren Paul is sending, whom he mentioned in verse 3, are there to cause everything to be above reproach. The Greek word translated by covetousness is often translated as “greed.”

Greed and self-dealing are inferred charges brought against Paul which he refutes in 2 Corinthians 7:2. This was likely a charge of self-enrichment. In 2 Corinthians 2:17, Paul asserted he is not like many who peddle the word of God, presumably for financial gain. By having third parties with great integrity do all the handling of the money, there will be no room for further allegations of impropriety.

This passage could also infer that by having the offering prepared, there could be an avoidance of a circumstance where the Corinthians experience embarrassment because they did not meet their pledge. If they were embarrassed, they might then give out of obligation or covetousness. This temptation can be avoided by simply following through on their pledge and collecting the promised amount.

It could also be that Paul is telling the Corinthians that rekindling the practice of setting aside an amount on the first day of each week and reaching their pledge amount will guard their hearts from covetousness. As a practical matter, it would also be the case that by honoring their pledge, they would have no need to be defensive and would avoid being embarrassed. By meeting their pledge, their hearts will be attuned to generosity.

As Paul will emphasize in the next section, the primary focus of this gift should be their heart, as God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Scripture indicates that our choices affect our hearts. Jesus states that overtly, saying that our heart follows where we choose to place our treasure (Matthew 6:21). Said another way, where we put our money will focus the affection of our hearts.