Paul Shares Thankfulness About Their Generous Gift |
2 Corinthians 9:1-15 Paul's 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians [in Smaller Chunks] |
For [there is no need] for me to write to you [about] ministering to the [Lord God's] saints. For I know the forwardness, [a.k.a. willingness,] of your [minds, of] which I boast [about] you to [those from] Macedonia, that Achaia was ready [to make generous financial gifts] a year ago. |
And your zeal [enthusiasm,] has provoked, [a.k.a. annoyed,] many. [Still,] I have sent the brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers,] lest our boasting of you, [about] this, should be in vain, [a.k.a. worthless.] |
[So] that you may be ready, as I said; lest [perhaps those] of Macedonia come with me, & find you unprepared, & (that we [didn't] say, you) should be ashamed, [about] this same confident boasting. |
Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort, [a.k.a. appeal,] [to] the brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers, so] that they would go before, [a.k.a. earlier,] to you, & [could collect] your [bountiful] [donation] beforehand, [of which] you had [prior] notice. |
[So] that the same [financial gift donated] might be ready, as a matter of [your] [generosity,] & not [out] of covetousness, [a.k.a. envy.] But I say this, He, [who sows] sparingly, shall also reap, [a.k.a. harvest,] sparingly. And he, [who sows] bountifully, [a.k.a. abundantly,] shall also reap [abundantly.] |
Every man [shall contribute] according [like] he [plans] in his heart. So, [don't] let him give grudgingly, or of necessity: for God [loves] a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; [so] that you always [have] [what is] [sufficient, a.k.a. enough,] [to meet all your needs] in all things, [so that] you may abound, [a.k.a. continue to grow & do,] every good work, [a.k.a. deed.] |
(As it is written [in the Scriptures,] He has dispersed, [a.k.a. distributed or scattered,] abroad. He [has] given to the poor; & his righteousness [remains] forever. Now, he [who, ministers, a.k.a. donates,] seed to the sower, [doing this the Lord God:] both [provides] bread for your food, & [multiplies] your seed sown, & [increases] the fruits of your righteousness.) |
[By] being enriched, [a.k.a. made more productive,] in everything, to all [plentifulness,] which [causes] us [to] [give thanks] to God. For the administration, [a.k.a. distribution,] of this [generous financial gift provides:] this service [that] not only [supplies] the want, [a.k.a. needs] of the [Lord God's] saints, but [its] [abundance] [is] also by many [giving thanks] to God. |
[While] the [proof] of this [distribution] [for the Lord's ministry, is] they glorify God, for [what you go through in order to share] the Gospel of Christ, & for your liberal, [a.k.a. generous gift, distributed] to them, & to all men. |
And their prayer for you, which [continues] long after you, for the exceeding grace of God [within] you. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. |