Глава 9

2 Corinthians 9:1. However, it is unnecessary for me to write to you about helping the saints. 2 Corinthians 9:2. for I know your zeal and I boast of you before the Macedonians that Achaia has been prepared since the past year; and your zeal has encouraged many. “It is too much for us to write to you about the service to the saints. We know because of your zeal, in which the Macedonian boasts about you, because Achaia was prepared from the summer that passed.” The Apostle, having spoken in detail about those serving in necessities, called the exhortation about generosity unnecessary, not actually considering it unnecessary, but in this way of speaking inciting to greater generosity. Therefore, he testified to their zeal and pointed out that he had already informed the Macedonians about it long ago, so that this would make them even more zealous. This is what the Apostle added: “And jealousy from you has irritated many.” The divine Apostle is worthy of wonder for those who look at his spiritual wisdom; By the example of the Corinthians he aroused the Macedonians to do good, and by the example of the Macedonians he aroused the Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 9:3. I sent my brothers so that my praise of you would not be in vain in this case, but so that you, as I said, would be prepared. 2 Corinthians 9:4. and so that when the Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we will not remain in shame - I do not say “you” - having boasted with such confidence. “I have sent word to the brethren, that our boasting about you should not come to nothing in this part: but yes, as the verbs say, you will be prepared; but if the Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we will be ashamed, lest you speak in part of this praise.” The apostle showed that he was worried about himself and was afraid of being exposed to false praise, so that, caring for his own glory and the glory of the teacher, they would become more generous in giving money. 2 Corinthians 9:5. Therefore, I considered it necessary to ask the brothers to go to you in advance and take care in advance, so that your blessing, already announced, would be ready as a blessing, and not as a tax. “It is necessary for those who intend to beg the brethren, so that they will come to you first and prepare your previously announced blessing, this is ready to be like a blessing, and not like covetousness.” The Apostle nowhere called charity love for mankind, but calls it grace, fellowship and blessing, and commands it to be done with joy; for he expressed this in the words: “like a blessing, and not like covetousness”; because the covetous one grieves, but the generous one rejoices. And since the Apostle entrusted the measure of alms to free will, out of necessity and in this reasoning he gives decent advice. 2 Cor.9:6. With this I will say: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. “Behold, I say, sow with poverty, and with poverty you will also reap; but sow for a blessing, and you will reap a blessing.” The Apostle very opportunely used a figurative figure of speech and called such generosity sowing, pointing to the abundant fruit of charity; He also exposed those who are driven by stinginess, saying that the harvest is proportionate to the amount of sowing. Then again he leaves it to arbitrariness. 2 Cor.9:7. Each one should give according to the disposition of his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion; For God loves a cheerful giver. “Everyone has a will in the heart, neither out of sorrow nor out of need: God loves the giver with a good will.” The Apostle said this in the Epistle to the Romans: “have mercy with good will” (Rom. 12:8); for monetary alms must be preceded by complacency. Then he prays for the Corinthians, showing fatherly compassion. 2 Corinthians 9:8. God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound in every good work. “God is able to make all grace abound in you, so that in everything you always have every good fortune, you will abound for every good deed.” 2 Corinthians 9:9. As it is written: he lavished it, he gave it to the poor; his truth endures forever. “As it is written: Give lavishly to the needy; his righteousness endures forever and ever” (Ps. 111:9). He asked them for both the wealth of Divine gifts and the abundance of progress in virtue, for the words “all grace” mean gifts, and the words “good deeds” mean types of virtue. In good time, he also brought forth prophetic testimony, clearly teaching that contempt of property gives rise to eternal truth. 2 Cor.9:10. He who gives seed to the sower and bread for food will give abundance to what you sow and will multiply the fruits of your righteousness. 2 Cor.9:11. So that you may be rich in everything in all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God. “Give therefore seed to the sower and bread for food, that your seed may be nourished and multiplied, and that the life of your righteousness may increase: that in all things we may be rich in all simplicity, which gives us thanksgiving to God.” The Apostle not only combined prayer with exhortation, but taught the richness of God’s power, that God is able to abundantly bestow blessings on everyone; because in the beginning He gave seed to people, and He also nourishes the seed planted in the ground and delivers food from it to people; and also, thinking about your benefit, wants those in need to receive what they need from you. The Apostle again called charity "seed", and "lives of righteousness" - the benefit that grows from it, and "simplicity" - generosity; because he who is driven by excessive calculations accepts the passion of stinginess. 2 Corinthians 9:12. For the work of this ministry not only replenishes the poverty of the saints, but also produces abundant thanksgiving to God in many. 2 Cor.9:13. For, seeing the experience of this service, they glorify God for your obedience to the Gospel of Christ that you profess and for your sincere communication with them and with everyone. 2 Cor.9:14. Praying for you, according to your disposition, for the grace of God that abounds in you. “For the work of this ministry not only fulfills the hardships of the saints, but also abounds with many thanks to God, and glorifies God through the temptation of this service.” Do not think, says the Apostle, that through this you will succeed in only one thing and serve only the needs of the saints. This gives rise to other much greater fruits, namely, it leads to the glorification of the God of all; The Apostle says what exactly God is glorified for. “About the submission of your confession in the gospel of Christ and about the simplicity of the message to them and to everyone, and about those prayers for you who desire you for the abundant grace of God upon you.” For those who see how you accepted the Divine preaching, how you subjugated yourself to the Master, and also notice your generosity towards the saints, and not only those living in Jerusalem, but also those who are everywhere, offer praise to the author of this, God; and you will gain fruit in the prayers they offer for you; because they love you very much, having recognized God’s generosity towards you. 2 Corinthians 9:15. Thanks be to God for His ineffable gift! “Thanks be to God for His inscrutable gift.” It is usual for the apostle to glorify God when he speaks about any kind of economy of God. When the gift is inscrutable, is the essence comprehensible? Having said this about serving the saints, the Apostle finally begins to lay out accusations against these deceivers; also concerns the Corinthians themselves, making it clear that some of them were carried away by the false speeches of the seducers. You might be interested in: