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 to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. 4We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! 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. 6Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

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 have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.
• 1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.
• Genesis 33:11Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift.
• 1 Samuel 25:27And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men.
• 1 Samuel 30:26When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.
• 2 Kings 5:15Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman 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