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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.

Context of 2 Corinthians 9:5

3But 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. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 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. 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, 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

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, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.
• 1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
• Genesis 33:11Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.
• 1 Samuel 25:27And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.
• 1 Samuel 30:26When David reached Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.”
• 2 Kings 5:15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So 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