2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 9 STUDY GUIDE
2 Corinthians Chapter 9
Verses 1-15
“Plant A Lot of Seeds!”
[10-22-17]
Review: “Do the Good Things You Wanted To Do! ”
2 Corinthians 8:10-14) [ERV] This is what I think you should do: Last year you were the first to want to give, and you were the first who gave.
See our 2 Corinthians Chapter 8 Study Guide
11) So now finish the work you started. Then your “doing” will be equal to your “wanting to do.” Give from what you have.
NOTE: It’s wonderful to want to do something that will benefit others; it’s far better to actually do it!
NOTE: If you don’t have much then you can’t give much. However, you can give generously out of your poverty.
12) If you want to give, your gift will be accepted. Your gift will be judged by what you have, not by what you don’t have.
Concerning the poor widow’s 2 mites – “The Gospel of Mark specifies that two mites (Greek lepta) are together worth a quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. A lepton [Greek for “mite”] was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in Judea, worth about six minutes of an average daily wage” [Wikipedia].
My mathematical computation – In an 8 work day there are 480 minutes. 6 minutes would represent 1/80th of the time in our work day. Let’s be generous: you get paid $25/hour. 8X25=$200/day. 1/80th of that would be $2.50. If you multiply that by “2” because she had 2 mites her total amount of money that she had to her name was $5 [Hannah].
NOTE: Many of us have never earned $25/hour. My current $13/hour is the most I’ve ever earned. If we used my hourly wage as a gauge, then she only owned $2.60.
“It was much less than any coin we have, as the ‘farthing’ was less than an English farthing. It was in value about three mills and a half, or one-third of a cent” [Barnes].
*NOTE: If we take Barnes’s notes to our computation then the widow only had $1.34 to her name if we use $25/hour, or 75 cents to her name if we use $13/hour.
NOTE: Monetarily speaking, the widow put an extremely small offering in the coffers of the Temple, but her “gift” was” judged by what” she had, “not by what” she didn’t “have.”
NOTE: Using that judgment Jesus declared, “she gave more than all those rich people” [Mark 12:43].
13) For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14) At this time you have plenty and can provide what they need. Then later, when they have plenty, they can provide what you need. Then everyone will have an equal share.
This Week: “Plant A Lot of Seeds! ”
2 Corinthians 9:1-15) [ERV] I really don’t need to write to you about this help for God’s people.
(GW) I don’t need to write anything further to you about helping the Christians in Jerusalem.
2) I know that you want to help. I have been bragging about you to the people in Macedonia. I told them that you people in Achaia have been ready to give since last year. And your desire to give has made most of the people here ready to give also.
“Achaia (a-ki-a) was that part of Greece of which Corinth was the capital” [Barnes].
NOTE: Paul bragged to the Macedonian churches that the Corinthian church was eager to give; and that sparked a desire in Macedonian believers to give also.
3) But I am sending these brothers to you. I don’t want our bragging about you in this to be for nothing. I want you to be ready just as I said you would be.
4) If any of those from Macedonia come with me, and they find that you are not ready, we will be ashamed. We will be ashamed that we were so sure of you. And you will be ashamed too!
NOTE: I bragged about your desire to give to the poor saints in Jerusalem; however, I’m sending some folk to you to aid you in having your offering ready when I arrive. That way, if anyone from Macedonia accompanies me when I come they’ll see you ready to give.
5) So I thought that I should ask these brothers to come there before we do. They will help in getting together the generous gift you promised. Then it will be ready when we come, and it will be seen as a blessing you are giving, not as something you were forced to do.
NOTE: Paul wanted this offering ready when he arrived so any Macedonians accompanying him would see their gift as a gift of love they wanted to give.
6) Remember this: The one who plants few seeds will have a small harvest. But the one who plants a lot will have a big harvest.
(KJV) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
QUESTION: What lesson is Paul giving us here?
ANSWER: If we want a small crop we just need to plant a few seeds; but, if we want a “big harvest” then we have to plant a lot of seeds.
7) Each one of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You should not give if it makes you unhappy or if you feel forced to give. God loves those who are happy to give.
(KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
“cheerful” – “hilaros” – “cheerful, joyous, prompt to do anything” [Thayer].
“Our word ‘hilarious’ comes from hilaron” [Robertson].
QUESTION: What has Paul been teaching us on this subject, up to this point?
- If you say you’re going to give to God, then give to God.
- Let your giving originate in your heart.
- Don’t give grudgingly.
- God loves it when we give to Him with a spirit of “hilarious” giving.
8) And God can give you more blessings than you need, and you will always have plenty of everything. You will have enough to give to every good work.
(GW) Besides, God will give you his constantly overflowing kindness. Then, when you always have everything you need, you can do more and more good things.
9) As the Scriptures say, “He gives generously to the poor; his goodness will continue forever” [Ps. 112:9].
NOTE: Paul quotes from a Psalm regarding how “a good man” gives to the poor.
10) God is the one who gives seed to those who plant, and he gives bread for food. And God will give you spiritual seed and make that seed grow. He will produce a great harvest from your goodness.
(GW) God gives seed to the farmer and food to those who need to eat. God will also give you seed and multiply it. In your lives he will increase the things you do that have his approval.
NOTE: What we give; whatever “seed” we plant; we received it from God. If we plant the seed God gives us He will give us a greater amount of seed to sow in the future.
11) God will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will make people give thanks to God.
(CEV) You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift.
NOTE: Paul tells us that when we give generously to the poor God will increase our ability to give to give to those who have need.
12) The service you are offering helps God’s people with their needs, but that is not all it does. It is also bringing more and more thanks to God.
(GNB) For this service you perform not only meets the needs of God’s people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God.
NOTE: What we give meets the needs of others; but it also causes others to praise God for that provision!
13) This service is a proof of your faith, and people will praise God because of it. They will praise God that you freely share what you have with them and with all people. They will praise him to see you following the Good News about Christ that you openly accepted. They will praise God because you freely share with them and with all people.
14) And when they pray, they will wish they could be with you. They will feel this way because of the great grace that God gave you.
NOTE: The individuals who receive the help we give will rejoice to God for His provision; but they will also desire to spend time with you because of the genuineness of your Christian experience.
15) Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful to describe.
(KJV) Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
QUESTION: What is this “unspeakable gift”?
ANSWER: God provides for you; then you turn around and use His provision for you to provide for others.