2 Corinthians 9:5

2 Corinthians 9:5 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

Context of 2 Corinthians 9:5

3But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said. 4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation. Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion. 6The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:5 word by word

ἀναγκαῖον οὖν ἡγησάμην παρακαλέσαι τοὺς ἀδελφούς, ἵνα προέλθωσιν εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ προκαταρτίσωσιν τὴν προεπηγγελμένην εὐλογίαν ὑμῶν ταύτην ἑτοίμην εἶναι, οὕτως ὡς εὐλογίαν καὶ μὴ ὡς πλεονεξίαν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• I thought itἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• necessaryἀναγκαῖοςanagkaios · necessaryG316
• to exhortπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
• the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• they would go beforeπροέρχομαιproerchomai · to go beforeG4281
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• youσύsu · youG4771
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• make up beforehandπροκαταρτίζωprokatartizō · to arrangeG4294
• bountyεὐλογίαeulogia · praiseG2129
• whereof ye had notice beforeπροκαταγγέλλωprokataggellō · to foretellG4293
• that the sameοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• might beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ·οὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• readyἕτοιμοςhetoimos · readyG2092
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• notμήmē · notG3361
• asὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
• covetousnessπλεονεξίαpleonexia · greedinessG4124

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 9:5

• 2 Corinthians 8:6So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace.
• 1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.
• Genesis 33:11Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted.
• 1 Samuel 25:27Let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord.
• 1 Samuel 30:26When David came to 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 Kings 5:15Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel. Therefore, please accept a gift from your servant.”

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 9:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Whereof ye had notice before - Instead of , spoken of before, BCDEFG, several others, with the Coptic, Vulgate, Itala, and several of the fathers, have , 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Therefore 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 ( ̓́ eulogia) means properly commendation, eulogy. Then it means blessing, praise applied to God. Then that which blesses - a gift, donation, favor…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-5Two reasons encourage the spirit of love in giving: to follow the example of the Macedonians, who were generous despite their poverty (9:2); and to avoid embarrassing Paul or themselves, as he had praised the Corinthians' generosity to the Macedonians (9:3–5). To ensure the collection at Corinth is ready on time, Paul will send delegates (8:16–24) ahead to prepare the promised gift.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 9:5

• Alms
• Beneficence
• Emulation
• Liberality
• Poor
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Administration
• Boast
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Thanks
• Bountifulness; Bounty
• Church
• Church Government
• Collection
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Grace

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings