II Corinthians 9

II Corinthians 9   Read this great chapter on generosity as the apostle Paul writes to the church he founded in Corinth about an offering he is gathering to take to the Christians in Jerusalem who are suffering economically due to the profession of their faith in Christ. John Wesley’s notes follow with his eighteenth century insights that are fresh for the twenty-first century.

1	For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2	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.
3	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:
4	Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5	Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up before hand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6	But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7	Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8	And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9	(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10	Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11	Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12	For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
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.
15	Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

John Wesley’s Notes:

1. To write to you – Largely.

2. I boast to them of Macedonia – With whom he then was.

3. I have sent the above mentioned brethren before me.

5. Spoken of before – By me, to the Macedonians. Not as a matter of covetousness – As wrung by importunity from covetous persons.

6. He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully – A general rule. God will proportion the reward to the work, and the temper whence it proceeds.

7. Of necessity – Because he cannot tell how to refuse.

8. How remarkable are these words! Each is loaded with matter and increases all the way it goes. All grace – Every kind of blessing. That ye may abound to every good work – God gives us everything, that we may do good therewith, and so receive more blessings. All things in this life, even rewards, are, to the faithful, seeds in order to a future harvest. Prov. xxii, 9

9. He hath scattered abroad – (A generous word.) With a full hand, without any anxious thought which way each grain falls. His righteousness – His beneficence, with the blessed effects of it. Remaineth for ever – Unexhausted, God still renewing his store. Psalm cxii, 9

10. And he who supplieth seed – Opportunity and ability to help others. And bread – All things needful for your own souls and bodies. Will continually supply you with that seed, yea, multiply it to you more and more. And increase the fruits of your righteousness – The happy effects of your love to God and man. Isaiah lv, 10

11. Which worketh by us thanksgiving to God – Both from us who distribute, and them who receive, your bounty.

13. Your avowed subjection – Openly testified by your actions. To all men – Who stand in need of it.

15. His unspeakable gift – His outward and inward blessings, the number and excellence of which cannot be uttered.