For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God,
Parallel Translations
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For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God,
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For the office of this ministracion not only supplieth the nede of the sayntes: but also is aboundaunt herein that for this laudable ministrynge thankes myght be geven to god of many
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For the ministration of this seruice not onely supplieth the necessities of the Saintes, but also aboundantly causeth many to giue thankes to God,
Cross-references (9)
Passages linked to 2 Corinthians 9:12 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 2 Corinthians 8:14-15 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
- Philemon 1:4-7 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints, that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
- Philippians 2:25 But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,
- James 2:14-16 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?
- 1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
- 2 Corinthians 8:4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
- Philippians 4:18-19 But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God. My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Corinthians 1:11 you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift given to us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.
- 2 Corinthians 9:1 It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain By the term administration, he means what he had…
By the term administration, he means what he had undertaken at the request of the Churches. Now what we render functionem (service), is in the Greek λειτουργία term that sometimes denotes a sacrifice, sometimes any office that is publicly assigned. Either of them will suit this passage well. For on the one hand, it is no unusual thing for alms to be termed sacrifices; and, on the other hand, as on occasion of offices being distributed among citizens, no one grudges to undertake the duty that has been assigned him, so in the Church, imparting to others ought to be looked upon as a necessary duty. The Corinthians, therefore, and others, by assisting the brethren at Jerusalem, presented a sacrifice to God, or they discharged a service that was proper, and one which they were bound to fulfill. Paul was the minister of that sacrifice, but the term ministry, or service, may also be viewed as referring to the Corinthians. It is, however, of no particular importance.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Another excellent and double fruit of liberality towards the…
Another excellent and double fruit of liberality towards the Saints, is this: that it giveth occasion to praise God, and that our faith is also thereby made manifest.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain No than ought to live to himself; the two…
No than ought to live to himself; the two great ends of every Christian’s life ought to be, the glory of God, and the good of others, especially such as belong to the household of faith. This service (saith the apostle) serveth both those ends:
1. It supplieth the neccessities of the saints; and:
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2. It causeth thanksgivings to God by many persons, and upon many accounts; which he further openeth in the following verses.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Still our apostle proceeds, by way of motive, farther…
Still our apostle proceeds, by way of motive, farther to excite and stir up the Corinthians to this charitable contribution, from sundry considerations; namely,
1st. That it would be a very seasonable supply to the church’s wants, who were at this time in great want of it: Now, the seasonableness of any mercy, adds greatly to the worth and value, to the pleasure and sweetness of it.
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2ndly, That it would occasion repeated praises and incessant thanksgivings to God, for many persons, and upon many accounts.
3rdly, This distribution of yours, says the apostle, will be a convincing experiment, evidence and demonstration of your professed subjection to the gospel, and that your faith is not barren and ineffectual. No better evidence of our real; subjection to the gospel of Christ, than a cheerful compliance, not with the cheap, but with the costly duties of Christianity.
Lastly, For your alms, you will engage a stock of prayers going for you: This will procure, yea, provoke them to pray night and day for you, nay, not only engage prayer for you, but it will also draw forth their love and fervent affection towards you, make them very desirous of your acquaintance, having received such an experiment of the grace of God that is in you.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain For the administration of this service,.... Not only by…
For the administration of this service,.... Not only by the Corinthians, and others, in giving and collecting, but by the apostles in ministering and distributing their contributions to the poor saints, produced these two very good effects: for it
not only supplieth the wants of the saints; makes up their deficiencies, relieves their necessities, and furnishes them with what is comfortable and refreshing to them under their many sorrowful circumstances, which is answering a very valuable end:
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but is abundant also by many thanks givings to God; it has over and above this excellency in it, or its excellent use is enhanced, and abundantly appears by this consideration; that many precious souls are sent hereby to the throne of grace to give thanks to God, who put it into the hearts of the apostles to move the churches on their behalf, and who wrought upon them so cheerfully and largely to contribute to their necessities.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 12. For the administration of this service] The…
Verse 12. For the administration of this service] The poor are relieved, see the hand of God in this relief, and give God the glory of his grace.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain For the administration of this service - The distribution…
For the administration of this service - The distribution of this proof of your liberality. The word “service” here, says Doddridge, intimates that this was to be regarded not merely as an act of humanity, but religion.
The want of the saints - Of the poor Christians in Judea on whose behalf it was contributed.
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But is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God - Will abound unto God in producing thanksgivings. The result will be that it will produce abundant thanksgiving in their hearts to God.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Greek, "The ministration of this public service (on your…
Greek, "The ministration of this public service (on your part) is not only still further supplying the wants of the saints (besides the supplies from other quarters), but is abounding also (namely, in respect to relieving the necessities of others in poverty) through many thanksgivings to God."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain f. By the gratitude of the benefitted parties, 2Co_9:12-15.
f. By the gratitude of the benefitted parties, 2Co_9:12-15.
12. Administration of this service—The bestowment of this public benefaction.
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Not only—Literally, Not only is filling up the deficiencies of the saints, but is causing to abound thanksgiving, through many, to God.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 12. For the administration of this service] Literally, For…
12. For the administration of this service] Literally, For the ministry (see note on 2Co_9:1) of this public service (the mynysterie of this public office, Wiclif; the office of this ministration, Tyndale). The word translated service means any public work. “The λειτουργοὶ,” says Potter in his Grecian Antiquities, “were persons of considerable estates, who were ordered to perform some public duty or to supply the commonwealth with necessaries at their own expenses.” See also Smith’s Dictionary of Antiquities, Art. Liturgia. Hence comes our word Liturgy, which originally signified any public function, but afterwards became restrained to the Holy Communion only. See, for the word, Luk_1:23; Php_2:17; Php_2:30; Heb_8:6; Heb_9:21. The verb derived from the same source is used of the public services of the Church in Act_13:2; Heb_10:11. In Rom_15:27 it is used in the same sense as here.
is abundant] Rather, exceedeth, or aboundeth. See note on ‘exceeding joyful,’ ch. 2Co_7:4; also ch. 2Co_1:11, 2Co_4:15.
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by many thanksgivings] Cf. ch. 2Co_1:11, 2Co_4:15.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (12) For the administration of this service.—The latter word…
(12) For the administration of this service.—The latter word (leitourgia) has, like that for “ministering” in 2Co_9:10, an interesting history. In classical Greek it stands for any public service rendered to the State. In the LXX. version it, and its cognate verb and adjective, are used almost exclusively of the ritual and sacrificial services of the Tabernacle and the Temple, as, e.g., in Num_4:25; 1Ch_11:13; 1Ch_26:30; and in this sense it appears in Luk_1:23; Heb_8:6; Heb_9:21; and with the same shade of meaning, used figuratively, in Php_2:17. That meaning survives in the ecclesiastical term “liturgy,” applied, as it was at first, exclusively to the service of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Here, probably, the thought is implied that a large and liberal gift to Christ’s poor, and for His sake, is the most acceptable of all forms of “service” in the liturgical sense of that word. So understood it implies the same truth as that stated in Jas_1:27.
Not only supplieth the want of the saints.—Literally, fills up the things that were lacking. The wants of the “saints,” i.e., the disciples of Jerusalem, were, we must remember, very urgent. They had never quite recovered from the pressure of the famine foretold by Agabus (Act_11:28), and the lavish generosity of the first days of the Church (Act_2:44-45; Act_4:32) had naturally exhausted its resources.
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But is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.—More accurately, overflows, by means of many thanksgivings, to God: the latter noun standing in a closer connection with the verb than the English version suggests. Some of the better MSS. give, to Christ.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain For the administration of this service. The word "liturgy,"…
For the administration of this service. The word "liturgy," here rendered "service," is used in the same connection in Rom_15:27. Generally it means "religious service" (Act_13:6; Php_2:17; Heb_10:11) Here it more resembles its classic sense of "a public office discharged for the good of the state," such as undertaking the office of a choragus (see ver. 10). Not only. St. Paul is anxious to emphasize the religious side of the contribution fully as much as its philanthropic object. Is abundant. It overflows as it were in the form of thanksgivings to Galatians
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 12. For the administration of the service. Two things…
12. For the administration of the service. Two things result from the bountiful giving. (1) The wants of the saints are supplied. (2) Their thanksgiving for the relief glorifies God.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain For the ministration of this service not only filleth…
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 ;
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain Liberal giving brings the blessings of the recipients:
Liberal giving brings the blessings of the recipients:
v. 12. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God,
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v. 13. whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them and unto all men,
v. 14. and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
v. 15. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift!
Paul here adds a final motive for their cheerful contribution, namely, that of the material and moral benefits which the brethren at Jerusalem would derive there from. The word which the apostle uses for service is that which is otherwise used for the forms of Christian worship. By taking part in this collection according to the manner as outlined by him, the Corinthians would actually be active in the public worship of God, in their ministration for the Christian community at Jerusalem. They would not only be supplying or filling up the needs of the saints by giving them what they needed for their sustenance, but their service would also abound through many thanksgivings to God. The poor at Jerusalem would have reasons for a twofold thanksgiving to God: for the material aid which they would receive, and for the spirit which would thereby be manifested by the brethren at a distance. The latter point is emphasized by the apostle: Inasmuch as they glorify God through the proof afforded by this ministry of the obedience which flows from your confession of the Gospel of Christ. The receipt of this most welcome aid from the brethren at a distance would necessarily convince the Christians at Jerusalem of the fact that the former had in truth become obedient to the Gospel, that their faith in Jesus Christ was working in them the true fruits of love, of which fact their act of charity was a confession. It was a real obedience to the Gospel which the members of the Asian, Macedonian, and Achaian congregations professed by their act of charity, by the liberality of their contribution toward the poor in Jerusalem and to all; it showed the existence of a real communion of faith and spiritual interests, which was active in such a splendid manner, wherever the need of help became known. In other words: "They who receive such a proof as this ministration gives, will give glory to God for your obedience to the confession you have made with respect to the Gospel of Christ, and for the common fellowship with them and with all Christians which your single-hearted liberality displays."
That the sense of fellowship would be strengthened by the presentation of this collection is a fact which Paul also does not overlook: While they also, with prayers for you, in your behalf, long after you on account of the surpassing grace of God upon you. The thankfulness of the Christians at Jerusalem would cause them to ask God’s blessings upon these friends in the distant countries, of whose love they had such abundant evidence. And, incidentally, they would yearn with an affection intensified by this display of love for those benefactors in whom the rich working of God’s grace had shown such extraordinary results. It is ever thus: When Christians send the free gifts of their love for the alleviation of the hardships and troubles of fellow-believers at a distance, the latter will be united with them in spirit more closely than before, mutual affection will be strengthened, mutual prayers will become more fervent. Continents and oceans may separate Christians, but the consciousness of the same faith, the same lore, as evidenced by some token of fellowship, will unite their hearts more closely than by the closest earthly relationship.
As Paul contemplates this wonderful result of the divine grace in the congregation at Corinth, there arises from the depth of his soul an outburst of holy thankfulness: Thanks be to God for His unspeakable Gift! If it had not been for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His redemption, such a result would not have been possible in this congregation, which, a few short years before, had not even heard of the poor believers in Judea. But the miraculous gift of Christ Himself, Joh 3:16; Isa 9:6, and of salvation in Him had worked this transformation in the hearts of the Corinthian Christians, had wrought this thankful appreciation which bore such rich fruit in their lives, which made them so willing to give evidence of their faith by the gifts of their hands. The same power is at work in the Christian Church today and should at all times be duly acknowledged in adoring gratefulness.
Summary
Paul reminds the Corinthians of their willingness to contribute their share of the collection, which has acted as a stimulus to others; he urges them to have their contribution ready by the time of his arrival in Corinth; he reminds them of the fact that liberal giving is blessed, and calls forth the blessing of the recipients.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 For carrying out this service
For carrying out this service
Here the word "service" refers to Paul and his companions bringing the contribution to the believers in Jerusalem. AT: "For our carrying out this service for the believers in Jerusalem" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
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but is also overflowing into many acts of thanksgiving to God
Paul speaks of the Corinthian believers' act of service as if it were a liquid of which there is more than a container can hold. AT: "It also causes many deeds for which people will thank God" (See: Metaphor)
Because of your being tested and proved by this service
This can be stated in active form. AT: "Because this service has tested and proven you" (See: Active or Passive)
you will also glorify God by obedience ... by the generosity of your gift to them and to everyone
Paul says that the Corinthians will glorify God both by being faithful to Jesus and by giving generously to other believers who have need.
for his inexpressible gift
"for his gift, which words cannot describe." Possible meanings are 1) that this gift refers to "the very great grace" that God has given to the Corinthians, which has led them to be so generous or 2) that this gift refers to Jesus Christ, whom God gave to all believers.
translationWords
servant
believe
God
test
glory
obey
confess
good news
Christ
gift
pray
grace
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.