2 Corinthians 9:1-2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

In these verses the apostle speaks very respectfully to the Corinthians, and with great skill; and, while he seems to excuse his urging them so earnestly to charity, still presses them thereto, and shows how much his heart was set upon this matter. I. He tells them it was needless to press them with further arguments to afford relief to their poor brethren (2 Cor. 9:1), being satisfied he had said enough already to prevail with those of whom he had so good an opinion. For, 1. He knew their... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

9:1-5 It is superfluous for me to write to you about this service designed to help God's dedicated people, for I know your eagerness, about which I have boasted for you to the Macedonians, for I have told them that Achaea has been ready since last year, and the story of your zeal has kindled the majority of them. But, all the same, I am sending the brothers, so that, in this particular matter, the boast I made of you may not be proved empty, so that you might be all ready, as I said you were.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 9:1

For as touching the ministering to the saints ,.... It looks at first sight as if the apostle was entering upon a new subject, though by what follows it appears to be the same; for by "ministering to the saints", he does not mean the ministry of the Gospel to them; nor that mutual assistance members of churches are to give each other; but either the fellowship of ministering to the saints, which the churches had entreated him, and his fellow ministers, to take upon them, namely, to take the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 9:2

For I know the forwardness of your mind ,.... How that they were willing of themselves to engage in this good work; how readily they came into it; what a cheerful disposition of mind they showed towards it; and how forward they were to begin the collection: for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia ; he had one it before, which had put them upon the like service, and he still continued to boast of them, that Achaia was ready a year ago : not that their collection was ready made... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 9:1

It is superfluous for me to write to you - I need not enlarge, having already said enough. See the preceding chapter, (2 Corinthians 8 (note)). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 9:2

I know the forwardness of your mind - You have already firmly purposed to contribute to the support of the poor and suffering saints. That Achaia was ready a year ago - The whole of the Morea was anciently called Achaia, the capital of which was Corinth. The apostle means, not only Corinth, but other Churches in different parts about Corinth; we know there was a Church at Cenchrea, one of the ports on the Corinthian Isthmus. Your zeal hath provoked very many - Hearing that the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 9:1

Verse 1 This statement may seem at first view to suit ill, or not sufficiently well, with what goes before; for he seems to speak of a new matter, that he had not previously touched upon, while in reality he is following out the same subject. Let the reader, however, observe, that Paul treats of the very same matter that he had been treating of before — that it was from no want of confidence that he exhorted the Corinthians, and that his admonition is not coupled with any reproof as to the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 9:2

Verse 2 2.For which I have boasted. He shows the good opinion that he had of them from this, that he had, in a manner, stood forward as their surety by asserting their readiness. But what if he rashly asserted more than the case warranted? For there is some appearance of this, inasmuch as he boasted, that they had been ready a year before with it, while he is still urging them to have it in readiness. I answer, that his words are not to be understood as though Paul had declared, that what they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 9:1

For . This word shows that he is continuing the same subject, and therefore excludes the supposition that this chapter is a separate letter or fragment. No doubt, however, the express mention of the collection after he has been practically writing about it through the whole of the last chapter looks as if he had been interrupted, or had left off dictating at the end of the last verse. Such breaks must often and necessarily have occurred in the dictation of the Epistles, and doubtless help to... read more