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2 Corinthians 9:3

in 2 Corinthians 9

But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:

KJV

Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

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This verse in 2 Corinthians 9

Commentary

12 notes on this verse
Yet have I sent the brethren,.... Titus, and the other two mentioned in the foregoing chapter: one manuscript reads, "we have sent"; and the Ethiopic version, "they have sent", that is, the Macedonians; but the common reading is best.

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.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Ambrosiaster

COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES · Written before 384.

proposed

Paul often reminds the Corinthians of his care for them by saying this kind of thing, so that they will not feel frustrated.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily 19 on 2 Corinthians · Written before 407.

proposed

"For this cause have I sent the brethren that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void." Seest thou that he is in anxiety and terror, lest he should seem to have said what he said only for exhortation's sake? 'But because so it is,' saith he, "I have sent the brethren;" 'so earnest am I on your behalf,' "that our glorying may not be made void." And he appears to make himself of the Corinthians' party throughout, although caring for all alike. What he says is this; 'I am very proud of you, I glory before all, I boasted even unto them, so that if ye be found wanting, I am partner in the shame.' And this indeed he says under limitation, for he added, "In this respect," not, in all points; "That even as I said, ye may be prepared." 'For I did not say, 'they are purposing,' but 'all is ready; and nothing is now wanting on their part. This then,' he says, 'I wish to be shown by your deeds.'

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Then when he says, But I am sending the brethren, he establishes the true cause for why he was sending such solemn messengers. First, he lays down the general reason; secondly, the special reason (v. 3b). Concerning the first he does two things. First, he …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

proposed

He makes himself as it were a member of the Corinthian church and is anxious about it. For he says: since I boasted of you, I was afraid lest I be put to shame, and therefore sent the brothers, "that our boasting of you may …

The Reformation1 voice

A commentator

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

proposed

But I have sent the brethren. He now brings forward the reason -- why it is that, while entertaining a favorable opinion as to their willingness, he, nevertheless, sets himself carefully to exhort them. "I consult," says he, "my own good name and yours; for while I promised in your name, we would, both of us in common, incur disgrace, if words and deeds did not correspond.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes

5 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

13 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; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

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

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

), and not surprised with hasty demands, when he should come to them. When we would have others to do that which is good we must act towards them prudently and tenderly, and give them time.

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

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Yet have I sent the brethren - The brethren referred to in 2Co 8:18, 2Co 8:22-23. Lest our boasting of you - That you were disposed to contribute, and that you were already prepared, and that the contribution was ready. Should be in vain - Lest anything should have occurred to prevent the collection. I have sent them that they may facilitate it, and that it may be secure and certain. In this behalf - In this respect.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Yet have I sent the brethren - Titus and his companions, mentioned in the preceding chapter. That, as I said, ye may be ready - And he wished them to be ready, that they might preserve the good character he had given them: this was for their honor; and if they did not take care to do so, he might be reputed a liar; and thus both they and himself be ashamed before the Macedonians, should any of them at this time accompany him to Corinth.

The words behind it

22 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

7 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.

Proverbs 3:28Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means.4 works2 Corinthians 8:6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.3 works2 Corinthians 7:14Indeed, I was not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved to be true as well.2 works2 Corinthians 9:4–5Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.2 worksTitus 3:1Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,2 works2 Corinthians 8:17–24For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Corinthians 16:1–4Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia: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

    Titus 3:1

    Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,

    it leads to

    • Romans 13:1–7

      Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

    • 1 Peter 2:13–17

      Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,

    • Ecclesiastes 10:4

      If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

    • Galatians 6:9–10

      Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

    • Proverbs 24:21

      My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.

  • 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?

    • 2 Corinthians 8:16–17

      But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.

    • 2 Corinthians 8:19

      More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

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 10 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; 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.

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