2 Corinthians 9:11-15
 
2 Cor 9:11 (KJB)
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
 
Being enriched - To make wealthy
Bountifulness - Liberality or generosity
 
Paul here prays that the believers who have given financially toward the gift for the Jerusalem church that God would make them wealthy in everything. This does not mean that Paul is praying that God blesses them so they can become rich and spend it on pleasure. Paul is saying that in accordance with their generosity God may make them to prosper so they can continue to give. When the gift will be brought to Jerusalem, the help they receive will cause them to be in a mode of thanksgiving to God for meeting the needs in a hard time. Giving to the ministry is not a temporal thing but it has eternal effects. It is basically turning the money that you give, from a material to a spiritual matter. By helping support the ministry of the Gospel, you are literally helping change lives for eternity.
 
2 Cor 9:12 (KJB)
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
 
The administration - Ministry or service
Service - Ministry
Supplieth - Supply fully or fill up
Want - Poverty or shortages
 
The Jerusalem church would have given thanksgiving to God for the help they received. Paul calls this a ministry in helping the Saints in hard times. The situation in Jerusalem had caused much poverty among the Christians. This gift not only met the temporal needs but had caused them to give thanksgiving to God which means it helped turn their physical poverty into many spiritual blessings as they focused upon the goodness of God in relieving their poverty.
 
2 Cor 9:13 (KJB)
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;
 
The experiment - Proof, ordeal, or test
Professed - Confession or acknowledgement
Subjection - Obedience
Liberal - Generosity
Distribution - Sharing or contribution
 
Paul knew that this gift would have a greatly desired effect upon both the giver and the ones receiving it. This shows that the Gentile churches are under the subjection of the true Gospel. That true Gospel within them has manifested itself, in this case, to send help to the Jerusalem church. The Jewish Christians in Jerusalem would now see that the conversion of the Gentiles to true Christianity was real. It was no longer seen as just a professed Christianity but was now seen as a possessed Christianity, whereby they were possessed by the true Gospel and their unselfishness was a visible proof.
 
2 Cor 9:14 (KJB)
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
 
Which long after - Desire
 
After receiving the gift, the Jerusalem Christians would be one spirit with them and would pray for them though they be separated by many miles. They would then desire to be like the Corinthian Christians in the matter of their manifested generosity plus they would have a sincere love for them thus binding them together much tighter. This would cause the Lord to do a work similar to what the Corinthians did and hopefully they would be able to bless others.
 
2 Cor 9:15 (KJB)
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
 
Unspeakable - Indescribable or inexpressible
 
This verse has a major and minor meaning. The minor meaning would be the fact that God places in the hearts of His children the desire to help other Christians in need and to part with their funds or whatever is needed to help the brethren. The major meaning of this verse in comparison to the minor meaning is the greatest gift that God gave to us, and that was His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ who granted us eternal life through His finished sacrifice on Calvary. When we give any of our worldly possessions to help others, it shows, in a very small way, that we are identifying with the great sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ gave all but we are only giving in a small way, yet those gifts can be turned into eternal life for someone when we give to a ministry that teaches the true Gospel. Even those who have given their lives as martyr for the Christian faith do not compare with what Christ did. Christ took upon Himself the sins of all the Elect, but if we give our physical life for the Lord, we go to heaven with all our sins removed and no burden at all. So even Christian martyrdom cannot compare with the sacrifice Christ made.

Back