For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and {Or, emulation of you}your zeal hath stirred up {Greek: the more part.}very many of them.
But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:
lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.
I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised {Greek: blessing.}bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of {Or, covetousness}extortion.
But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth {Greek: with blessings. Compare verse 5.}bountifully shall reap also {Greek: with blessings. Compare verse 5.}bountifully.
Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not {Greek: of sorrow.}grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:
as it is written,
{Psalm 112:9.}He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor;
His righteousness abideth for ever.
And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:
ye being enriched in everything unto all {Greek: singleness. Compare chapter 8:2.}liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.
For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;
seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the {Greek: good tidings. See marginal note on chapter 2:12.}gospel of Christ, and for the {Greek: singleness. Compare chapter 8:2.}liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all;
while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Querverweise zu 2. Korinther 9,8 2Kor 9,8
And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the {Hebrew: troop.}army of Israel? And the man of God answered, Jehovah is able to give thee much more than this.
and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness:
ye being enriched in everything unto all {Greek: singleness. Compare chapter 8:2.}liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.
how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their {Greek: singleness. See Romans 12:8.}liberality.
For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield:Jehovah will give grace and glory;No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;
Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou rulest over all; and in thy hand is power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should {Hebrew: retain strength.}be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and {Hebrew: of thy hand.}of thine own have we given thee.
But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in {Some ancient authorities read our love to you.}your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Honor Jehovah with thy substance,And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called {That is, Gazelle}Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich;And {Or, toil addeth nothing thereto}he addeth no sorrow therewith.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not {Or, void}vain in the Lord.
There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more;And there is that withholdeth {Or, what is justly due}more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack;But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
to walk worthily of the Lord {Or, unto all pleasing, in every good work, bearing fruit and increasing &c.}unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing {Or, by}in the knowledge of God;
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts.
comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Bring ye the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.
Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to {Or, profess honest occupations}maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:
And let our people also learn to {Or, profess honest occupations}maintain good works for necessary {Or, wants}uses, that they be not unfruitful.