Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

2 Corinthians 9:5

in 2 Corinthians 9

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the bountiful gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.

KJV

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

⋯

This verse in 2 Corinthians 9

Commentary

13 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

Lest he seem to contradict what was said above — "it is superfluous for me to write to you" — while now speaking again about the same thing, he discusses generosity and the completion of the deed with cheerfulness, for which reason, he says, I …

This site's exposition

I am sending the brothers

on 2 Corinthians 9:3-5

Paul sends the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty. Verse 5 calls the promised gift eulogia, blessing, the same term behind verse 6.

This site's exposition

the bountiful gift you had promised

The Greek word behind bountiful gift means a blessing. John Calvin keeps that sense, since the Greeks used the word for the Hebrew beracah, meaning a prayer for good and an act of kindness. Adam Clarke adds a late and reluctant gift would have looked like covetousness to watching strangers.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily 19 on 2 Corinthians · Written before 407.

proposed

"I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would make up beforehand this your bounty, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty and not of extortion." Again, he resumed the subject in a different manner: and that he may not seem to be saying these things without object, he asserts that the sole reason for this journey was, that they might not be put to shame. Seest thou how his words, "It is superfluous for me to write," were the beginning of advising? You see, at least, how many things he discourses concerning this ministering. And along with this, one may further remark that, (lest he should seem to contradict himself as having said, "It is superfluous," yet discoursing at length about it,) he passed on unto discourse of quickness and largeness and forwardness in contributing, by this means securing that point also. For these three things he requires. He begins first with that which is pleasantest and lighter; namely, the 'not of necessity,' for, it is "bounty" he says. Observe how in the form of his exhortation he represents at once the fruit as springing up, and the givers as filled with blessing. And by the term employed he won them over, for no one gives a blessing with pain. Yet neither was he content with this; but added, "not as of extortion." 'Think not,' he says, 'that we take it as extortioners, but that we may be the cause of a blessing unto you.' For extortion belongs to the unwilling, so that whoso giveth alms unwillingly giveth of extortion.

A commentator

Ambrosiaster

COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES · Written before 384.

proposed

Paul was not asking Titus and his colleagues to go to Corinth as if they were not willing to do so, but in order to prove his love for them. Titus and his friends wanted to go, and Paul is urging them to do so …

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Then when he says, So I thought it necessary, he urges them to give abundantly. In regard to this he does two things. First, he gives the admonition; secondly, he gives the reason for it (v. 6). He says therefore: lest our boasting be voided …

The Reformation1 voice

A commentator

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

As a blessing, not in the way of niggardliness In place of blessing, some render it collection. I have preferred, however, to render it literally, as the Greeks employed the term eulogias to express the Hebrew word vrkh, (beracah,) which is used in the sense of a blessing, that is, an invoking of prosperity, as well as in the sense of beneficence.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

), 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

5 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

, that a liberal contribution was expected, a matter of bounty, not what savoured of covetousness; and he offers to their consideration that men who expect a good return at harvest are not wont to pinch and spare in sowing their seed, for the return is usually proportionable to what they sow,

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Therefore I thought it necessary ... - In order to secure the collection, and to avoid all unpleasant feeling on all hands. That they would go before unto you - Before I should come. And make up beforehand your bounty - Prepare it before I come. The word “bounty” is in the margin, rendered “blessing.” The Greek (εὐλογία eulogia) means properly commendation, eulogy. Then it means blessing, praise applied to God. Then that which blesses - a gift, donation, favor, bounty - whether of God to human beings, or of one man to another.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

that they would go before--Translate, "that they should," &c. whereof ye had notice before--rather, "promised before"; "long announced by me to the Macedonians" (2Co 9:2) [BENGEL]. "Your promised bounty" [ELLICOTT and others]. not as of covetousness--Translate, "not as matter of covetousness," which it would be, if you gave niggardly.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Whereof ye had notice before - Instead of προκατηγγελμενην, spoken of before, BCDEFG, several others, with the Coptic, Vulgate, Itala, and several of the fathers, have προεπηγγελμενην, what was promised before. The sense is not very different; probably the latter reading was intended to explain the former. See the margin. Bounty, and not as of covetousness - Had they been backward, strangers might have attributed this to a covetous principle; as it would appear that they were loth to give up their money, and that they parted with it only when they could not for shame keep it any longer. This is the property of a covetous heart; whereas readiness to give is the characteristic of a liberal mind. This makes a sufficiently plain sense; and we need not look, as some have done, for any new sense of πλεονεξια, covetousness, as if it were here to be understood as implying a small gift.

The words behind it

26 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

14 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Philippians 4:17Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.5 worksGenesis 33:11Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.4 works1 Samuel 25:27Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you.4 worksJudges 5:9My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!4 worksJoshua 15:19“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.4 works1 Kings 3:6Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.3 works
The other 8 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Kings 5:15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”3 works2 Corinthians 12:17–18Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?2 works2 Corinthians 8:6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.2 works1 Samuel 30:26When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.”2 works1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed.2 worksJudges 1:15“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.2 worksIsaiah 36:16Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern,2 worksPhilemon 1:14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Philippians 4:17

    Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.

    it leads to

    • Titus 3:14

      And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.

    • Hebrews 6:10

      For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.

    • 2 Corinthians 9:9–13

      As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

    • John 15:8

      This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

    • Philippians 4:11

      I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

  • Through

    Genesis 33:11

    Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.

    it leads to

    • Philippians 4:18

      I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 8:6

    So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 12:18

      I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?

  • Through

    1 Samuel 25:27

    Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you.

    it leads to

    • Genesis 33:11

      Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Corinthians

The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt, 1627. Public domain.
The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt, 1627. Public domain.
2 Corinthians: the study guide →Read 2 Corinthians 9 →
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles 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; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.

Read on in 2 Corinthians 9 →