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 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. Therefore 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. 6My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because 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 8:6Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you.
• 1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come.
• Genesis 33:11Please take my present that was brought to you, for God has been generous to me and I have all I need.” When Jacob urged him, he took it.
• 1 Samuel 25:27Now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow my lord.
• 1 Samuel 30:26When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah who were his friends, saying, “Here’s a gift for you from the looting of the Lord’s enemies!”
• 2 Kings 5:15He and his entire entourage returned to the prophet. Naaman came and stood before him. He said, “For sure I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel! Now, 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