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 have sent the brothers, in order that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you will be prepared; 4otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to mention you--would be put to shame by this confidence. So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised generous gift, that the same would be ready as a generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness. 6Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for 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

• Soοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• I consideredἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• it necessaryἀναγκαῖοςanagkaios · necessaryG316
• to urgeπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
• brothersἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• that they goπροέρχομαιproerchomai · to go beforeG4281
• to you and arrangeπροκαταρτίζωprokatartizō · to arrangeG4294
• your previouslyπροεπαγγέλλωproepaggellomai · to promiseG4279
• generousεὐλογίαeulogia · praiseG2129
• that the sameοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• would be readyἕτοιμοςhetoimos · readyG2092
• greedinessπλεονεξίαpleonexia · greedinessG4124

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 9:5

• 2 Corinthians 8:6So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
• 1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper, so that no collections need to be made when I come.
• Genesis 33:11Please accept my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty.” So he urged him, and he accepted it.
• 1 Samuel 25:27And now let this gift which your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who accompany my lord.
• 1 Samuel 30:26Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoils to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Behold, a gift for you from the spoils of the enemies of the Lord:
• 2 Kings 5:15Then he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; so please accept a gift from your servant now.”

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