2 Corinthians 9:2
in 2 Corinthians 9For 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.
KJV
For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 9
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThe other churches followed after Corinth. When they heard that a church which had previously been involved in many errors had put them right, they were moved to good works. After accepting the faith and then behaving badly, they began to have this desire to …
This site's exposition
no need for me to write to you
on 2 Corinthians 9:1-2
Paul has been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. Your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise, so the two provinces now spur each other on.
This site's exposition
your eagerness to help
Paul's boast rested on a promise made the year before. John Calvin reads it as a report of what the church had resolved upon, which clears Paul of any charge of fickleness. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the zeal spread from Corinth to the greater number of the Macedonians.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 333 · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul holds up the Macedonians to the Corinthians and the Corinthians to the Macedonians as examples to imitate.
"For I know your readiness of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia." Now it was a great thing that he even knew it himself, but much greater, that he also published it to others: for the force it has is greater: for they would not like to be so widely disgraced. Seest thou his wisdom of purpose? He exhorted them by others' example, the Macedonians, for, he says, "I make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the Churches of Macedonia." He exhorted them by their own, for he saith, "who were the first to make a beginning a year ago not only to do, but also to will." He exhorted them by the Lord's, for "ye know" he saith, "the grace of our Lord, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor." Again he retreats upon that strong main point, the conduct of others. For mankind is emulous. And truly the example of the Lord ought to have had most power to draw them over: and next to it, the consideration of the recompense: but because they were somewhat weak, this draws them most. For nothing does so much as emulation. But observe how he introduces it in a somewhat novel way. For He did not say, 'Imitate them;' but what? "And your zeal has stirred up very many." What sayest thou? A little before thou saidst, they did it "of their own accord, beseeching us with much entreaty," how then now, "your zeal?" 'Yes,' he saith, 'we did not advise we did not exhort, but we only praised you, we only boasted of you, and this was enough to incite them.' Seest thou how he rouses them each by the other, these by those, and those by these, and, along with the emulation, has intermingled also a very high encomium. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
I know myself, he says, of your eagerness, and not only do I know this, but I boast before others that all of Achaia is ready, and not Corinth alone, and that nothing remains except for those collecting alms to come to you. So then, …
And the reason for this is because I know your readiness to help them: "My heart is steadfast, O God" (Ps. 108:1). That your mind is ready I prove by two things. First, from our boasting of you, for unless I knew that you were …
The Reformation1 voice
I answer, that his words are not to be understood as though Paul had declared, that what they were to give was already laid aside in the chest, but he simply mentioned what had been resolved upon among them. This involves no blame in respect of fickleness or mistake. It was, then, of this promise that Paul spoke.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
), and proceeds to give directions about the acceptable way and manner of performing it, namely, bountifully, deliberately, and freely; and gives good encouragement for so doing,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
For I know the forwardness of your mind,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
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.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
ready a year ago--to send off the money, owing to the apostle's former exhortation (1Co 16:1, 2). your zeal--Greek, "the zeal from you," that is, on your part; propagated from you to others. provoked--that is, stimulated. very many--Greek, "the greater number," namely, of the Macedonians.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For I know the forwardness of your mind - I know your promptitude, or your readiness to do it; see 2Co 8:10. Probably Paul here means that he had had opportunity before of witnessing their readiness to do good, and that he had learned in particular of Titus that they had formed the plan to aid in this contribution. For which I boast of you to them of Macedonia - To the church in Macedonia; see 2Co 8:1. So well assured was he that the church at Corinth would make the collection as it had proposed, that he boasted of it to the churches of Macedonia as if it were already done, and made use of this as an argument to stimulate them to make an effort. That Achaia was ready a year ago - Achaia was that part of Greece of which Corinth was the capital; see the note, Act 18:12. It is probable that there were Christians in other parts of Achaia besides Corinth, and indeed it is known that there was a church in Cenchrea (see Rom 16:1). which was one of the ports of Corinth. Though the contribution would be chiefly derived from Corinth, yet it is probable that the others also would participate in it. The phrase “was ready” means that they had been preparing themselves for this collection, and doubtless Paul had stated that the collection was already made and was waiting. He had directed them 1Co 16:1 to make it on the first day of the week, and to lay it by in store, and he did not doubt that they had complied with his request. And your zeal - Your ardor and promptitude. The readiness with which you entered into this subject, and your desire to relieve the needs of others. Hath provoked - Has roused, excited, impelled to give. We use the word “provoke” commonly now in the sense of to irritate, but in the Scriptures it is confined to the signification of exciting, or rousing. […]
The words behind it
22 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οἶδα | oida | I know | ||
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προθυμίαν | prothumian | readiness | G4288 → | 5 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἣν | hen | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | concerning | G5228 → | 155 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καυχῶμαι | kauchomai | I boast of | G2744 → | 37 times |
| Μακεδόσιν, | makedosin | to Macedonians, | G3110 → | |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| Ἀχαΐα | achaia | Achaia | G882 → | 10 times |
| παρεσκεύασται | pareskeuastai | has prepared itself | G3903 → | |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| πέρυσι, | perusi | a year ago, | G4070 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | your | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ζῆλος | zelos | zeal | G2205 → | 16 times |
| ἠρέθισεν | erethisen | has been provoking | G2042 → | |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλείονας. | pleionas | greater number. | G4119 → | 45 times |
οἶδαI know
oida
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
προθυμίανreadiness
prothumianG4288 →5 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἣνwhich
henG3739 →1405 times
ὑπὲρconcerning
huperG5228 →155 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
καυχῶμαιI boast of
kauchomaiG2744 →37 times
Μακεδόσιν,to Macedonians,
makedosinG3110 →
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἈχαΐαAchaia
achaiaG882 →10 times
παρεσκεύασταιhas prepared itself
pareskeuastaiG3903 →
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
πέρυσι,a year ago,
perusiG4070 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ὑμῶνyour
humonG4771 →2973 times
ζῆλοςzeal
zelosG2205 →16 times
ἠρέθισενhas been provoking
erethisenG2042 →
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
πλείονας.greater number.
pleionasG4119 →45 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 10:24And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- 1 John 3:18
Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
- Hebrews 13:1
Continue in brotherly love.
- Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
- Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Through
2 Corinthians 8:8I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:6
I say this as a concession, not as a command.
- 1 Corinthians 7:6
Through
2 Corinthians 8:10And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- 1 Timothy 6:18–19
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
- Hebrews 13:16
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily 19 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 333; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.