2 Corinthians 9:3

2 Corinthians 9:3 in other versions

• King James Version (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:
• New International Version (NIV)But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready;

Context of 2 Corinthians 9:3

1For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints, 2because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them. But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them. 4For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. 5Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.

2 Corinthians 9:3 word by word

ἔπεμψα δὲ τοὺς ἀδελφούς, ἵνα μὴ τὸ καύχημα ἡμῶν τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν κενωθῇ ἐν τῷ μέρει τούτῳ, ἵνα καθὼς ἔλεγον παρεσκευασμένοι ἦτε,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Yetδέde · thenG1161
• have I sentπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
• the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• lestἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• boastingκαύχημαkauchēma · prideG2745
• ofὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• youσύsu · youG4771
• should be in vainκενόωkenoō · to emptyG2758
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• behalfμέροςmeros · partG3313
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• I saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• ye mayπαρασκευάζωparaskeuazō · to prepareG3903
• beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 9:3

• 2 Corinthians 9:4For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.
• 2 Corinthians 7:14For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has proved true as well.
• 2 Corinthians 8:6Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you.
• 2 Corinthians 9:5Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.
• 1 Corinthians 16:1With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia:

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 9:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Yet 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.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Yet have I sent the brethren - The brethren referred to in 2 Corinthians 8:18, 2 Corinthians 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. That is, lest our…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. 33. have I sent--we should say, "I send"; whereas the ancients put it in the past, the time which it would be by the time that the letter arrived. the brethren--(2Co 8:18, 22)--Titus and the two others. should be in vain in this behalf--"should be proved futile in this particular," however true in general (2Co 7:4). A tacit compliment, softening the sharp monition. as I said--as I was saying (2Co 9:2).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 9:3

• Beneficence
• Emulation
• Liberality
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Administration
• Boast
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Thanks
• Church
• Church Government
• Collection
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Grace
• Paul, the Apostle

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