Chapter 9
A further exhortation to almsgiving. The fruits of it.
1 Now, concerning the ministry that is done toward the saints, it is not necessary for me to write to you.
ΠερὶPeriConcerningG4012PREP διακονίαςdiakoniasserviceG1248N-GSF ἁγίουςhagioussaintsG0040HA-APM περισσόνperissonexcessiveG4053A-NSN ἐστινestinit isG1510V-PAI-3S γράφεινgrapheinto writeG1125V-PAN ὑμῖν·huminto you;G4771P-2DP 2 For I know your willing mind. I glory about you, concerning this, to the Macedonians. For Achaia has also been prepared, for the past year. And your example has inspired very many others.
οἶδαoidaI knowG6063V-RAI-1S προθυμίανprothumianreadinessG4288N-ASF ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771P-2GP ὑπὲρhuperconcerningG5228PREP καυχῶμαιkauchōmaiI boast ofG2744V-PNI-1S Μακεδόσιν,Makedosinto Macedonians,G3110N-DPM-LG ἈχαΐαAchaiaAchaiaG0882N-NSF-L παρεσκεύασταιpareskeuastaihas prepared itselfG3903V-RMI-3S πέρυσι,perusia year ago,G4070ADV ἠρέθισενērethisenhas been provokingG2042V-AAI-3S πλείονας.pleionasgreater number.G4119A-APM-C 3 Now I have sent the brothers, so that what we glory about concerning you might not be empty in this matter, in order that (as I have explained) you may be prepared.
ἔπεμψαepempsaI have sentG3992V-AAI-1S ἀδελφούς,adelphousbrothers,G0080N-APM καύχημαkauchēmaboastingG2745N-NSN κενωθῇkenōthēamay be made voidG2758V-APS-3S μέρειmereimatterG3313N-DSN τούτῳ,toutōthis,G3778D-DSN καθὼςkathōseven asG2531CONJ ἔλεγονelegonI was sayingG3004GV-IAI-1S παρεσκευασμένοιpareskeuasmenoihaving prepared yourselvesG3903V-RMP-NPM ἦτε,ēteyou may be,G1510V-PAS-2P 4 Otherwise, if the Macedonians arrive with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you) would be ashamed in this matter.
ἔλθωσινelthōsinshall comeG2064V-2AAS-3P ἐμοὶemoime myselfG1473P-1DS ΜακεδόνεςMakedonesMacedoniansG3110N-NPM-LG εὕρωσινheurōsinshall findG2147V-2AAS-3P ἀπαρασκευάστους,aparaskeuastousunprepared,G0532A-APM καταισχυνθῶμενkataischunthōmenshall be put to shameG2617V-APS-1P ἡμεῖς,hēmeiswe ourselves —G3165P-1NP λέγωlegōI may sayG3004GV-PAS-1S ὑμεῖς,humeisyou yourselves —G4771P-2NP ὑποστάσειhupostaseiconfidenceG5287N-DSF καυχήσεως.kauchēseōsof boasting.G2746N-GSF 5 Therefore, I considered it necessary to ask the brothers to go to you in advance and to prepare this blessing as promised, and in this way, you may be ready as a blessing, not as an excess.1
ἀναγκαῖονanagkaionNecessaryG0316A-NSN ἡγησάμηνhēgēsamēnI esteemed [it]G2233V-ADI-1S παρακαλέσαιparakalesaito exhortG3870V-AAN ἀδελφούς,adelphousbrothersG0080N-APM προέλθωσινproelthōsinthey may go beforeG4281V-2AAS-3P προκαταρτίσωσινprokatartisōsinmay complete beforehandG4294V-AAS-3P προεπηγγελμένηνproepēngelmenēnhaving pre-promisedG4279V-RNP-ASF εὐλογίανeulogianblessingG2129N-ASF ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771P-2GP ταύτηνtautēnthisG3778D-ASF ἑτοίμηνhetoimēnreadyG2092A-ASF εἶναι,einaito beG1511V-PAN εὐλογίανeulogiana blessingG2129N-ASF πλεονεξίαν.pleonexiancovetousness.G4124N-ASF - 9:5In this context, ‘avaritiam’ is not so much avarice or greed as excess. Paul is saying that these spiritual preparations are not superfluous or excessive, but are a promised and necessary blessing.(Conte)
6 But I say this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. And whoever sows with blessings shall also reap from blessings:
σπείρωνspeirōnsowingG4687V-PAP-NSM φειδομένωςpheidomenōssparinglyG5340ADV φειδομένωςpheidomenōssparinglyG5340ADV θερίσει,theriseiwill reap,G2325V-FAI-3S σπείρωνspeirōnsowingG4687V-PAP-NSM εὐλογίαιςeulogiaisblessingsG2129N-DPF εὐλογίαιςeulogiaisblessingsG2129N-DPF θερίσει.theriseiwill reap.G2325V-FAI-3S 7 each one giving, just as he has determined in his heart, neither out of sadness, nor out of obligation. For God loves a cheerful giver.
ἕκαστοςhekastoseachG1538A-NSM καθὼςkathōseven asG2531CONJ προῄρηταιproērētaihe himself has purposedG4255V-RMI-3S καρδίᾳ,kardiaheart,G2588N-DSF λύπηςlupēsregretG3077N-GSF ἀνάγκης·anagkēsnecessity;G0318N-GSF ἱλαρὸνhilarona cheerfulG2431A-ASM δότηνdotēngiverG1395N-ASM ἀγαπᾷagapalovesG0025V-PAI-3S θεός.¶theosGod.G2316N-NSM-T 8 And God is able to make every grace abound in you, so that, always having what you need in all things, you may abound unto every good work,
ΔυνατεῖDunateiis ableG1414V-PAI-3S χάρινcharingraceG5485N-ASF περισσεῦσαιperisseusaito make aboundG4052V-AAN παντὶpantievery [way]G3956A-DSN πάντοτεpantotealwaysG3842ADV αὐτάρκειανautarkeiansufficiencyG0841N-ASF ἔχοντεςechonteshavingG2192V-PAP-NPM περισσεύητεperisseuēteyou may aboundG4052V-PAS-2P ἀγαθὸνagathongoodG0018A-ASN 9 just as it was written: “He has distributed widely, he has given to the poor; his justice remains from age to age.”
καθὼςkathōsEven asG2531CONJ γέγραπται·gegraptaiit has been written:G1125V-RPI-3S ἐσκόρπισεν,eskorpisenHe has scattered abroad,G4650V-AAI-3S ἔδωκενedōkenHe has givenG1325V-AAI-3S πένησιν,penēsinpoor,G3993N-DPM δικαιοσύνηdikaiosunērighteousnessG1343N-NSF αὐτοῦautouof HimG0846P-GSM μένειmeneiabidesG3306V-PAI-3S 10 And he who ministers seed to the sower will offer you bread to eat, and will multiply your seed, and will increase the growth of the fruits of your justice.
ἐπιχορηγῶνepichorēgōnsupplyingG2023V-PAP-NSM σπόρονsporonseedG4703N-ASM σπείροντιspeirontisowingG4687V-PAP-DSM ἄρτονartonbreadG0740N-ASM βρῶσινbrōsinfoodG1035N-ASF χορηγήσειchorēgēseiwill supplyG5524V-FAI-3S πληθυνεῖplēthuneiwill multiplyG4129V-FAI-3S σπόρονsporonseed for sowingG4703N-ASM ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771P-2GP αὐξήσειauxēseiwill increaseG0837V-FAI-3S γενήματαgenēmatafruitsG6013N-APN δικαιοσύνηςdikaiosunēsrighteousnessG1343N-GSF ὑμῶν.humōnof you.G4771P-2GP 11 So then, having been enriched in all things, you may abound in all simplicity, which works thanksgiving to God through us.
παντὶpantievery [way]G3956A-DSN πλουτιζόμενοιploutizomenoienriching youG4148V-PPP-NPM ἁπλότητα,haplotētagenerosity,G0572N-ASF κατεργάζεταιkatergazetaiproducesG2716V-PNI-3S εὐχαριστίανeucharistianthanksgivingG2169N-ASF θεῷ,theōto God,G2316N-DSM-T 12 For the ministration of this office not only supplies whatever the saints need, but also abounds through many thanksgivings in the Lord.
διακονίαdiakoniaministryG1248N-NSF λειτουργίαςleitourgiasserviceG3009N-GSF ταύτηςtautēsthisG3778D-GSF ἐστὶνestinisG1510V-PAI-3S προσαναπληροῦσαprosanaplērousacompletely filling upG4322V-PAP-NSF ὑστερήματαhusterēmataneedsG5303N-APN περισσεύουσαperisseuousais overflowingG4052V-PAP-NSF πολλῶνpollōnmanyG4183A-GPF εὐχαριστιῶνeucharistiōnthanksgivingsG2169N-GPF θεῷ·theōto God;G2316N-DSM-T 13 And so, through the evidence of this ministry, you glorify God by the obedience of your confession in the Gospel of Christ, and by the simplicity of your communion with them and with everyone,
δοκιμῆςdokimēsproofG1382N-GSF διακονίαςdiakoniasserviceG1248N-GSF ταύτηςtautēsthisG3778D-GSF δοξάζοντεςdoxazontes[they] glorifyingG1392V-PAP-NPM ὑποταγῇhupotagēasubmissionG5292N-DSF ὁμολογίαςhomologiasof confessionG3671N-GSF ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771P-2GP εὐαγγέλιονeuangeliongospelG2098N-ASN ΧριστοῦChristouof ChristG5547N-GSM-T ἁπλότητιhaplotētito [the] generosityG0572N-DSF κοινωνίαςkoinōniasparticipationG2842N-GSF αὐτοὺςautousthemG0846P-APM πάντας,pantasall,G3956A-APM 14 and they offer prayers for you, being solicitous about you, because of the excellent grace of God within you.
αὐτῶνautōnby theirG0846P-GPM δεήσειdeēseisupplicationG1162N-DSF ἐπιποθούντωνepipothountōna longingG1971V-PAP-GPM ὑμᾶςhumasfor youG4771P-2AP διὰdiaon account ofG1223PREP ὑπερβάλλουσανhuperballousansurpassingG5235V-PAP-ASF χάρινcharingraceG5485N-ASF θεοῦtheouof GodG2316N-GSM-T 15 Thanks be to God for his ineffable gift.
χάριςcharisThanks [be]G5485N-NSF θεῷtheōto GodG2316N-DSM-T ἀνεκδιηγήτῳanekdiēgētōindescribableG0411A-DSF αὐτοῦautouof HimG0846P-GSM δωρεᾷ.¶dōreagift!G1431N-DSF