March 11, 2026
2 Corinthians 9 ESV
Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Discussion Questions:
1) Verses 1-5: Why does Paul want the donation to Jerusalem to be collected in advance of his visit?
2) Verses 6-10: How does Paul urge the brethren to give generously?
3) Verses 11-15: What does Paul say will be the effect on the Jerusalem brethren by receiving this donation?
Discussion Summary:
Verses 1-5: Three brothers will be delivering this letter to the Corinthian brethren. They were to arrange for the completion of the collection before Paul’s visit. Paul did not want the Corinthians to feel the pressure to give that his personal presence would naturally place upon them. During his last visit many accusations had been leveled at him of possible fraud and of abusing his apostleship. Paul wanted the collection completed without the impediment of his personality.
Paul mentions that he “boasted” of their generosity to others. This is meant to be a spur to the Corinthians to complete this work that they had already agreed upon.
Verses 6-10: In these verse Paul quoted scriptures from a different translation of the Old Testament than the one we use today. He was quoting from the Septuagint translation and so some of these phrases do not occur in our Old Testament versions. These scriptures are used to give the following thoughts:
- Cheerfulness, or the desire to give is very important. If that attitude is missing the gift will not have its proper work on the giver’s heart (Exodus 35:5).
- God has already provided the temporal goods that we possess. They were first a gift to us that we then give to others (Matthew 10:8).
- The reward that one receives for giving is not more temporal goods. The reward is that it “increases the harvest of your righteousness.” The Lord blesses the generous giver with greater spiritual blessings (Luke 6:38).
Verses 11-15: Paul encourages the Corinthian brethren to give to the brethren in Jerusalem by pointing out that it would meet the needs of these poor brethren. It would also have spiritual benefits for the Jerusalem brethren. It would provide an occasion for the brethren to praise God by thanking him for the Corinthian brethren. It would also provide an occasion for the brethren to pray for blessings on the Corinthian brethren. This would bind the hearts of the two far-away groups of believers closer together. The donation would also be a demonstration in the authenticity of the conversion of these gentile brethren as in Acts 10.
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