Page 584
CHAP. IX.
1. * 1.1 FOR as touching the ministery to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you.]
[Paraphrase] 1. Now concerning this contribution to the poor Christians of Judaea, I suppose it utterly superfluous for me to use any arguments to exhort you to it.
2. For I know the forwardnesse of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia† 1.2 was ready a year agoe: and* 1.3 your zeale hath pro∣voked very many.]
[Paraphrase] 2. For of your forward∣nesse therein I am so farre from doubting, that I have made boast of it to others, that the Christians of all Achaia (of which Corinth was the chief city) have for a twelve-month made a preparation to send a new supply, beyond that which they then did (see ch. 8. 10. and note a.) and the emulation to your example, or the opinion of your forwardnesse hath stirred up, hath wrought much in Macedonia, made them very liberall.
3. † 1.4 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf, that, as I said, ye may be ready,]
[Paraphrase] 3. And that what I have thus boasted of your prepa∣ration, may be found true, and that you may be indeed prepared before-hand, and not surprized at my coming, I have sent these bearers to you to give you warning,
4. Lest happily if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepa∣red, we (that we say not, you) should be* 1.5 ashamed in this same confident boa∣sting.]
[Paraphrase] 4. Lest if the Macedoni∣ans, to whom I have boasted of your forwardnesse v. 2. come along with me to you, and find that you have not your supplies ready, it be matter of great shame to me, as it must be also to you (see c. 8. 10. note a.) that I have had the confidence (see note on Heb. 11. a.) and vanity to boast thus of you without cause.
5. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would goe before unto you, and make up before-hand your bounty,† 1.6 whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousnesse.]
[Paraphrase] 5. This is the reason for which these come now to you by my direction, that they may prepare and get together, and so complete and perfect that collection of yours which I have talk'd of, that it may be ready as an act of beneficence and liberality in you, before I come, and not as a collection gratingly extorted from you at my coming.
6. But this I say▪ He which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully]
[Paraphrase] 6. And for your encourage∣ment, this ye must know, that the more liberality ye shew herein, the greater the advantages will be to you from God, that rewardeth such charities, and that in proportion to the severall degrees of it.
7. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a chearfull giver.]
[Paraphrase] 7. Whatsoever then ye have determined to give, let it be given chearfully, not with any trouble to part with it, not as if it were extorted from you, for if it be not done chearfully, 'twill never be accepted, much lesse rewarded by God.
8. And God is able to [note a] make* 1.7 grace abound towards you, that ye alwaies ha∣ving all sufficiency in all things, may† 1.8 abound to every good work:]
[Paraphrase] 8. And to this end I shall adde one argument more, which will satisfie your only fear (that such liberality may bring your selves to straits or want) by telling you that God is the fountain of all plenty, and only dispenser of it, and is therefore able (and having oft promised it, is sure to make it good) to make you the richer, not the poorer, by your liberality, to make every almes you give, like the oyle in the cruise, to multiply (see v. 10.) as you poure it out, and so to give you continually a sufficient portion of wealth, that you still be able out of your abun∣dance to supply others, and have enough for every object of charity that can be offered to you.
9. (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor, his righteousnesse remaineth for ever.)]
[Paraphrase] 9. (According to that which the Psalmist saith Psal. 112. where there are signall promises of wealth and riches in the house of a good man or righteous (that is, of the liberal almes-giver) v. 3, and 9. and of blessing or abundance to his posterity, v. 2. and of exaltation and honour unto him, v. 9. so that all wicked and covetous men shall look on him with envy and gnashing of teeth v. 10. which Psalme being made up not only of affirmations what God is able to doe, but of promises what he will certainly perform, and being here by the Apostle applied to this matter of encouraging men to liberal almes-giving, is in effect the assuring of the truth of that Old Testament∣promise [of plenty to the Almes-giver] to belong also unto, and stand firm under the New Testament, and so consequently, that all manner of temporal felicities are the portion of this righteous man now still under the Gospel, which consequently is the summe of the Apostles prayer ver. 10.)
10. Now he that ministreth seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteous∣nesse,]
[Paraphrase] 10. Now that God that furnisheth the liberal man (which giveth away that which he hath) with so much more, provide all necessaries for you, and make you the richer for your liberality, and encrease unto you those fruits which are naturally the issue of liberality, a greater plenty for the future: (see note a.)
11. Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulnesse, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.]
[Paraphrase] 11. Having enough to be very liberal at all times, which is a most desirable condition, and that which brings in thanksgiving and glory to God.
12. For the* 1.9 administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God,]
[Paraphrase] 12. This charitable and serviceable ministring to, and supplying of other mens wants, being not only a means to relieve those Christians that are in necessity (see note on Mar. 12. b.) and so a charity to our brethren, but also an invitation and obligation of many mens gratitude unto God, and so an occa∣sion, if not a speciall act, of piety also,
13. While by the experiment of this ministration, they glorifie God for† 1.10 your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your* 1.11 liberall distribution unto them, and unto all men,]
[Paraphrase] 13. Whilst men that see and observe this charity and distribution of yours to the distressed Christians in Judaea blesse and magnifie the name of God, first, that ye are so ready to believe and obey the Gospel of Christ, to confesse Christ by doing what he commands, and secondly, that by your liberality these poor saints, and all others in their sympathy with them, doe receive so much benefit from you;
14. And by their prayer for you, which long after you, for the exceeding grace of God† 1.12 in you.]
[Paraphrase] 14. And lastly they are hereby raised up to pray for you, out of that passionate love and affection toward you, which the fight of the abundant virtues and graces of God in you doe work in them.