Lest haply = Lest by any means. Greek. me pos . if . App-118 . with . Greek. sun. App-104 . unprepared . Greek. aparaskeuastos. Only here. not. Greek me. App-105 ,I. ashamed . Greek. kataischuno. See Romans 5:5 . confident = confidence. Greek. hupostasis. Here, 2 Corinthians 11:17 . Hebrews 1:3 ; Hebrews 3:14 ; Hebrews 11:1 . boasting . Greek. kauchesis. See Romans 3:27 . The texts omit. read more
Lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.Lest by any means ... does not have any meaning of uncertainty. "It is not hypothetical, but = `when,' as in 2 Corinthians 13:2."[11]We should be put to shame ... This is a marvelous example of Paul's use of "we" in order more fully to identify himself with his readers for the purpose of making a more delicate and forceful appeal. All commentators... read more
4. if they of Macedonia—rather as Greek, "if Macedonians." unprepared—with your collection; see 2 Corinthians 9:2, "ready," Greek, "prepared." we, not to say ye—Ye would naturally feel more ashamed for yourselves, than we (who boasted of you) would for you. confident boasting—The oldest manuscripts read simply "confidence," namely, in your liberality. read more
D. The anticipated visit of Paul 9:1-5Paul revealed his plan to visit Corinth soon after Titus and his two companions arrived to motivate the Corinthians further to complete their collection and have it ready to go to Judea. Chapter 9 continues the subject of chapter 8. Some scholars have argued for separating chapter 9 from chapters 1-8, but there are insufficient compelling reasons for doing so. [Note: See ibid., pp. 210-11.] read more
III. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE COLLECTION FOR THE POOR SAINTS IN JUDEA 8:1-9:15The New Testament reveals that Paul was actively collecting money for "the poor among the saints in Jerusalem" (Romans 15:26) for about five years (A.D. 52-57). He solicited funds from the Christians in Galatia (Acts 18:23; 1 Corinthians 16:1), Macedonia (Acts 19:22; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 9:4), Achaia (Romans 15:26; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9), and Asia Minor (Acts... read more
Paul planned to bring some Macedonians with him to Corinth. The "if" does not imply doubt about this possibility in the Greek text. The first class condition in the Greek text describes a condition Paul assumed to be true for the sake of the argument. In this case we could translate the Greek word for "if" as "when" (cf. John 12:32; 1 John 2:28). Nevertheless there was a possibility that Paul and his Macedonian companions might find the Corinthians unprepared when they arrived. Paul evidently... read more
(c) 9:1-15. Exhortations to Generous GivingThere is no need to write to you about the purpose and necessity of the collection, for your zeal in the matter is well known, and has been used by me as a stimulus to the Macedonians. I send our friends to you only to make sure that our boast of you has not been vain. Remember that the blessing you receive will be in proportion to your giving, and that much spiritual benefit will come both to you and to them by this interchange of sympathy.1. The... read more
(4) Lest haply if they of Macedonia . . .—The Greek for “Macedonians” has no article, and the word is meant to stir up something like an esprit de corps. “Surely you Achaians won’t allow Macedonians to come and see that you fall short of what I told them about?” It is a probable, but not, as some have thought, a necessary inference, that neither of the two unnamed brethren of 2 Corinthians 8:18; 2 Corinthians 8:22, were of that province. What he now indicates is, that it is, at all events,... read more
4Chapter 21THE FRUITS OF LIBERALITY.2 Corinthians 8:16-24; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 (R.V)THIS long passage has a good many difficulties of detail, for the grammarian and the textual critic. Where it seems necessary, these will be referred to in the notes; but as the large meaning of the writer is hardly affected by them, they need not interrupt the course of exposition. It fails into three parts, which are clearly marked as such in the Revised Version:2 Corinthians 8:16-24, commending to the... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 9:1-5
Arrangements for the collection (8:16-9:5)Titus is just as keen as Paul to see this collection completed successfully (16-17). He is travelling to Corinth with two other well known Christians. One of them has been chosen by several churches as their representative to join Paul and the other representatives who will later take the money to Jerusalem. The other is a proven friend of Paul’s who has the interests of the Corinthians at heart. The reason for sending three people is to ensure that no... read more