2 Corinthians 9:13
in 2 Corinthians 9Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all;
KJV
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 9
Commentary
12 notes on this verseWhiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ.
This site's exposition
Because of the proof this ministry provides
on 2 Corinthians 9:13-14
The saints in Jerusalem will read the gift as proof of your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ. The money argues the unity of Jew and Gentile in one body, a point the collection was partly meant to make.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity · Written before 523.
proposed
And again Paul saith, "Ye have become obedient to the confession of the Gospel of Christ, and ye have become subject with them and with every man in your simplicity."
What he says is this; 'in the first place ye not only supply the wants of the saints, but ye are abundant even;' that is, 'ye furnish them with even more than they need: next, through them ye send up thanksgiving to God, for they glorify Him for the obedience of your confession.' For that he may not represent them as giving thanks on this account solely, (I mean, because they received somewhat,) see how high-minded he makes them, exactly as he himself says to the Philippians, "Not that I desire a gift." (Philippians chapter 4, verse 17) 'To them too I bear record of the same thing. For they rejoice indeed that ye supply their wants and alleviate their poverty; but far more, in that ye are so subjected to the Gospel; whereof this is an evidence, your contributing so largely.' For this the Gospel enjoins. "And for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all." 'And on this account,' he says, 'they glorify God that ye are so liberal, not unto them only, but also unto all.' And this again is made a praise unto them that they gave thanks even for that which is bestowed upon others. 'For,' saith he, 'they do honor, not to their own concerns only, but also to those of others, and this although they are in the extremest poverty; which is an evidence of their great virtue. For nothing is so full of envy as the whole race of such as are in poverty. But they are pure from this passion; being so far from feeling pained because of the things ye impart to others, that they even rejoice over it no less than over the things themselves receive.'
A commentator
Apostolic ConstitutionsCONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES · Written before 380.
proposed
Therefore, God has opened an entrance to all the sons of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in order that they may be in the faith of profession towards Him,
By this service Paul and his companions are testing the Corinthians' attitude and magnifying the Lord.
The Medieval Church1 voice
This thanksgiving is given for three reasons. First, for their faith, which they have received; hence he says: I say that they abound in thanksgiving, the faithful glorifying God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ, i.e., the confession of your faith, by …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
They glorify God because you are so obedient to the Gospel, that you fulfill its commandments with generosity; for the Gospel teaches almsgiving. And in another way they glorify God — for your simplicity and goodness, poured out not only toward them, but also toward …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Note, (1.) True Christianity is a subjection to the gospel, a yielding of ourselves to the commanding influence of its truths and laws. (2.) We must evince the sincerity of our subjection to the gospel by works of charity.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Whiles by the experiment ... - Or rather, by the experience of this ministration; the proof (δοκιμῆς dokimēs), the evidence here furnished of your liberality. They shall in this ministration have experience or proof of your Christian principle. They glorify God - They will praise God as the source of your liberality, as having given you the means of being liberal, and having inclined your hearts to it.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
by--through occasion of. experiment--Translate, "the experience" [ELLICOTT and others]. Or, "the experimental proof" of your Christian character, afforded by "this ministration." they--the recipients. for your professed subjection--Greek, "for the subjection of your profession"; that is, your subjection in accordance with your profession, in relation to the Gospel.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
By the experiment of this ministration - In this, and in the preceding and following verses, the apostle enumerates the good effects that would be produced by their liberal almsgiving to the poor saints at Jerusalem. 1. The wants of the saints would be supplied. 2. Many thanksgivings would thereby be rendered unto God. 3. The Corinthians would thereby give proof of their subjection to the Gospel. And, 4. The prayers of those relieved will ascend up to God in the behalf of their benefactors.
The words behind it
29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δοκιμῆς | dokimes | proof | G1382 → | 7 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διακονίας | diakonias | service | G1248 → | 34 times |
| ταύτης | tautes | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| δοξάζοντες | doxazontes | [they] glorifying | G1392 → | 61 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸν | theon | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | at | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑποταγῇ | hupotagea | submission | G5292 → | |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὁμολογίας | homologias | of confession | G3671 → | |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγέλιον | euangelion | gospel | G2098 → | 73 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | of Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἁπλότητι | haploteti | to [the] generosity | G572 → | 8 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κοινωνίας | koinonias | participation | G2842 → | 18 times |
| εἰς | eis | toward | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰς | eis | toward | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| πάντας, | pantas | all, | G3956 → | 1235 times |
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
δοκιμῆςproof
dokimesG1382 →7 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
διακονίαςservice
diakoniasG1248 →34 times
ταύτηςthis
tautesG3778 →1381 times
δοξάζοντες[they] glorifying
doxazontesG1392 →61 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
θεὸνGod
theonG2316 →1312 times
ἐπὶat
epiG1909 →883 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
ὑποταγῇsubmission
hupotageaG5292 →
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ὁμολογίαςof confession
homologiasG3671 →
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγέλιονgospel
euangelionG2098 →73 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Χριστοῦof Christ
christouG5547 →523 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἁπλότητιto [the] generosity
haplotetiG572 →8 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
κοινωνίαςparticipation
koinoniasG2842 →18 times
εἰςtoward
eisG1519 →1755 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰςtoward
eisG1519 →1755 times
πάντας,all,
pantasG3956 →1235 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
Matthew 5:16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- John 15:8
This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
- 1 John 1:5–7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
- Philippians 2:15–16
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
- 1 Peter 2:12
Through
Hebrews 13:16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13
But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
- Galatians 6:10
Through
1 Timothy 6:12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 1 Peter 5:10
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians

This page draws on 12 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; Apostolic Constitutions, CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 20 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.
