2 Corinthians 8-9

[Jim Watt]

“*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org*

*August 17, 2009
<http://www.2rbetter.org/>*


   *L. 2 CORINTHIANS 8-9*

*TEACHING ON THE MINISTRY OF GIVING.*

*1. 8:1-7 THE EXAMPLE OF THE MACEDONIANS IN GIVING*

*a. 8:1-2 GIVING OUT OF POVERTY*

Gn*o*RIzo-men [1107] de huMIN, a-delPHOI,

*Moreover, brethren, we make known to you*

t*e*n CHArin tou TheOU t*e*n de-doMEn*e*n en tais ek-kl*e*SIais t*e*s
Ma-ke-doNIas;

*the grace of :God :given in the churches of :Macedonia;*

HOti en polL*E* do-kiM*E* [1382] THLIpse-*o*s [2347]

*2 how that in much proof of tribulation*

h*e* pe-risSEIa [4050] t*e*s chaRAS auT*O*N kai h*e* kaTA BAthous [899] pt*o
*CHEIa [4432] auT*O*N

*the abundance of their :joy and their deep :poverty*

e-peRISseu-sen [4052] eis to PLOUtos [4149] t*e*s haPLOt*e*-tos [572] auT*O*
N.

*abounded unto the riches even of their :liberality.*


 *b. 8:3-5 GIVING: STARTS WITH GIVING OF SELF*

HOti kaTA DUna-min, mar-tuR*O* [3140],

*For according to their power, I bear witness,*

kai paRA DUna-min, auTHAIre-toi [830],

*yes and beyond power, they gave of their own accord,*

meTA polL*E*S pa-raKL*E*se-*o*s [3874] deOme-noi [1189] h*e*M*O*N t*e*n
CHArin

*4 beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of the grace*

kai t*e*n koi-n*o*NIan [2842] t*e*s di-a-koNIas [1248] t*e*s eis tous
haGIous [40]:

*and the fellowship in the ministry to the saints:*

kai, ou kaTH*O*S *e*lPIsa-men [1679], all' he-auTOUS Ed*o*kan [1325] PR*O*
ton

*5 and, not as we had hoped, but first they gave*

t*o* KuRI*o*, kai huMIN diA theL*E*ma-tos [2307] TheOU.

*their own selves to the Lord, and to us through God's will.*


 *c. 8:6 TITUS: AIDS THE CORINTHIANS IN GIVING*

eis to pa-ra-kaLEsai [3870] h*e*MAS TIton, HIna kaTH*O*S pro-eN*E*Rxa-to
[4278],

*Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had begun afore,*

HOUt*o*s kai e-pi-teLEs*e* [2005] eis huMAS kai t*e*n CHArin TAUt*e*n.

*so he would also complete unto you this grace also.*


 *d. 8:7 GIVING: MONEY AS WELL AS ALL ELSE*

all' H*O*Sper en panTI pe-risSEUe-te [4052], PIStei,

*But just as you abound in everything, in faith,*

kai LOg*o* kai GN*O*sei, kai PAs*e* spouD*E* [4710] kai t*e* ex huM*O*N en
huMIN aGAp*e*,

*and word and knowledge, and all diligence and our :love in you,*

HIna kai en TAUt*e* t*e* CHAri-ti pe-risSEU*e*-te.

*see** that you abound in this :grace also.*


 *2. 8:8-15 A PRINCIPLE: LET THERE BE EQUALITY AMONG CHURCHES*

*a. 8:8 LOVE: NOT COMMANDMENTS - OUR MOTIVATION*

Ou kat' e-pi-taG*E*N [2003] LEg*o*, alLA diA t*e*s heTEr*o*n

*I speak not by commandment, but as proving through*

spouD*E*S [4710] kai to t*e*s hu-meTEras aGAp*e*s GN*E*si-on do-kiMAz*o*n
[1381].

*the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your :love.*


 *b. 8:9 JESUS CHRIST: OUR GREAT EXAMPLE IN GIVING*

giN*O*Ske-te gar t*e*n CHArin tou KuRIou h*e*M*O*N 'I*e*SOU ChrisTOU,

*For you know the grace of our :Lord Jesus Christ,*

HOti, di' huMAS epT*O*cheu-sen [4433], PLOUsi-os [4145] *o*n,

*that, being rich, for you he became poor,*

HIna huMEIS t*e* eKEInou pt*o*CHEIa [4432] plouT*E*s*e*-te [4147].

*that you by his :poverty might become rich.*


 *c. 8:10 GIVING: STARTS WITH THE WILL*

kai GN*O*m*e*n en TOUt*o* DId*o*-mi:

*And herein I give my judgment:*

TOUto gar huMIN sumPHErei [4851], HOti-nes ou MOnon to poi*E*sai,

*for this is expedient for you, who began afore a year ago,*

alLA kai to THElein, pro-eN*E*Rxas-the [4278] aPO PEru-si [4070].

*not only :to do, but also :to will.*


 *d. 8:11 GIVING: ONLY COMPLETE WHEN THE DOING COMPLETE*

nuNI de kai to poi*E*sai e-pi-teLEsa-te [2005];

*But now complete the doing also;*

HOp*o*s kaTHAper h*e* pro-thuMIa [4288] tou THElein,

*so that as the readiness :to will,*

HOUt*o*s kai to e-pi-teLEsai ek tou Echein.

*so be the completion also out of what you have.*


 *e. 8:12 READINESS: BASED ON POSSESSION*

ei gar h*e* pro-thuMIa [4288] PROkei-tai [4295],

*For if the readiness is there,*

kaTHO eAN Ech*e* euPROSdek-tos [2144], ou kaTHO ouk Echei.

*it is **acceptable according as one has, not according as he has not.*


 *f. 8:13-15 MANNA: AN ILLUSTRATION OF EQUALITY IN GIVING*

ou gar HIna ALlois Ane-sis 425] huMIN THLIpsis [2347];

*For I speak not that others have ease and you tribulation;*

all' ex iSOt*e*-tos [2471]:

*14 but by equality: *

 en t*o* nun kaiR*O* [2540] to huM*O*N peRISseu-ma [4051] eis to eKEIn*o*n
husTEr*e*-ma [5303],

*your :abundance being at this present :season for their :want,*

HIna kai to eKEIn*o*n peRISseu-ma [4051] GEn*e*-tai eis to huM*O*N husTEr*e*-ma
[5303];

*that their :abundance also be unto your :want;*

HOp*o*s GEn*e*-tai iSOt*e*s [2471]:

*that there be equality:*

kaTH*O*S GEgrap-tai, Ho to poLU ouk e-pleOna-sen [4121];

*15 as it is written, He with much had nothing over;*

kai ho to oLIgon [3641] ouk *e*latTOn*e*-sen [1641].

*and he with the little had no lack.*


 *3. 8:16-24 GIVING: A PROOF OF LOVE*

*a. 8:16 TITUS: SHARES IN THE CORINTHIAN DILIGENCE*

CHAris de t*o* The*O*,

*But thank**s** be to :God,*

t*o* diDONti t*e*n auT*E*N spouD*E*N [4710] huPER huM*O*N en t*e* karDIa
TItou.

*who puts the same diligence for you into the heart of Titus.*


 *b. 8:17 TITUS: HIS GIVING VOLUNTARY*

HOti t*e*n men paRAkl*e*-sin [3874] eDExa-to;

*For he accepted indeed the exhortation;*

spou-daiOte-ros [4707] de huPARch*o*n,

*but being himself more diligent,*

auTHAIre-tos [830] eX*E*Lthen pros huMAS.

*he went forth unto you of his own accord.*


 *c. 8:18-21 PAUL'S COMPANION: APPOINTED BY THE CHURCHES*

su-nePEMpsa-men de met' auTOU ton a-delPHON

*And we have sent along with him the brother*

hou ho Epai-nos [1868] en t*o* eu-ag-geLI*o* [2008] diA paS*O*N t*o*n ek-kl*
e*-si*O*N;

*whose :praise in the gospel is through all the churches;*

ou MOnon de, alLA kai chei-ro-to-n*e*THEIS [5500]

*19 and not only so, but who was also appointed*

huPO t*o*n ek-kl*e*si*O*N suNEKd*e*-mos [4898] h*e*M*O*N en t*e* CHAri-ti
TAUt*e*,

*by the churches as our fellow-traveller in this :grace,*

t*e* di-a-ko-nouMEn*e* [1247] huph' h*e*M*O*N pros t*e*n tou KuRIou DOxan,

*which is ministered by us unto the glory of the Lord,*

kai pro-thuMIan [4288] h*e*M*O*N:

*and showing our readiness:*

stelLOme-noi [[4724] TOUto, m*e* tis h*e*MAS m*o*M*E*s*e*-tai [3469]

*20 avoiding this, that any man should blame us*

en t*e* haDROt*e*-ti [100] TAUt*e* t*e* di-a-ko-nouMEn*e* [1247] huph' h*e*M
*O*N:

*in this :bounty :ministered by us:*

pro-noOUmen [4306] gar kaLA,

*21 for we take thought for things honorable,*

ou MOnon eN*O*pi-on KuRIou, alLA kai eN*O*pi-on anTHR*O*p*o*n.

*not only in the Lord's sight, but also in men's sight.*


 *d. 8:22 PAUL'S TESTIMONY FOR THIS BROTHER*

su-nePEMpsa-men [4842] de auTOIS ton a-delPHON h*e*M*O*N,

*And we have sent with them our :brother,*

hon e-do-kiMAsa-men [1381] en polLOIS polLAkis spouDAIon [4706] ONta,

*whom we have oft proved to be diligent in many things,*

nuNI de poLU spou-daiOte-ron [4707] pe-poiTH*E*sei [4006] polL*E* t*e* eis
huMAS.

*but now more diligent by the great confidence unto you.*


 *e. 8:23 PAUL'S HIGH ENDORSEMENT OF TITUS*

EIte huPER TItou, koi-n*o*NOS [2844] eMOS kai eis huMAS su-nerGOS [4904];

*Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker toward
you;*

EIte a-delPHOI h*e*M*O*N, aPOSto-loi [652] ek-kl*e*SI*o*n, DOxa ChrisTOU.

*or our :brethren, they are messengers of the churches, Christ's glory.*


 *f. 8:24 PAUL: DESIRES PROOF OF HIS GLORYING IN TITUS*

T*e*n oun ENdei-xin [1732] t*e*s aGAp*e*s huM*O*N, kai h*e*M*O*N kauCH*E*se-
*o*s [2746] huPER huM*O*N,

*Show therefore unto them in face of the churches the proof of your :love,*

eis auTOUS enDEIxas-the [1731] eis PROs*o*-pon t*o*n ek-kl*e*-si*O*N.

*and of our glorying on your behalf.*


 *4. 9:1-5 THE VALUE OF A GIFT WHEN UNCOERCED*

*a. 9:1-2 PAUL: USES THE CORINTHIANS AS A WORTHY EXAMPLE*

PeRI men gar t*e*s di-a-koNIas t*e*s [1248] eis tous haGIous [40]

*For as touching the ministry :unto the saints*

pe-risSON [4053] MOI es-tin to GRAphein huMIN:

*it is superfluous for me :to write you:*

OIda gar t*e*n pro-thuMIan [4288] huM*O*N,

*2 for I know your :readiness,*

h*e*n huPER huM*O*N kauCH*O*mai [2744] Ma-keDOsin,

*of which I glory on your behalf to the Macedonians,*

HOti A-chaIa pa-resKEUas-tai [3903] aPO PEru-si [4070];

*that Achaia has been prepared for a year;*

kai ho huM*O*N Z*E*los [2205] *e*REthi-se [2042] tous PLEIo-nas [4119].

*and your :zeal has stirred up their more part.*


 *b. 9:3-4 PAUL; HELPS CORINTHIANS TO FOLLOW THROUGH*

Epem-psa de tous a-delPHOUS, HIna m*e* to KAUch*e*-ma [2745] h*e*M*O*N

*But I have sent the brethren, that our :glorying*

to huPER huM*O*N ke-n*o*TH*E* [2758] en t*o* MErei TOUt*o*;

*:on your behalf be not made void in this :respect;*

HIna, kaTH*O*S Ele-gon, pa-res-keu-asMEnoi [532] *E*te:

*that, even as I said, you may be prepared:*

m*e* p*o*s, eAN ELth*o*-sin sun eMOI Ma-keDOnes

*4 lest somehow, if Macedonians come with me*

kai HEUr*o*-sin huMAS a-pa-ra-skeuAStous [532], ka-tais-chunTH*O*men [2617]h
*e*MEIS

*and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, you)*

(HIna m*e* LEg*o*-men, huMEIS) en t*e* hu-posTAsei [5287] TAUt*e*.

*be put to shame in this :confidence.*


 *c. 9:5 PAUL: PROTECTS HIS GLORYING ON THEIR BEHALF*

a-nagKAIon [316] oun h*e*-g*e*SAm*e*n [2233] pa-ra-kaLEsai [3870] tous
a-delPHOUS,

*I thought it necessary therefore to exhort the brethren,*

HIna proELth*o*-sin [4281] eis huMAS,

*that they would go before unto you,*

kai pro-ka-tarTIs*o*-si [4294] t*e*n pro-e-p*e*g-gelMEn*e*n [4293] eu-loGIan
[2129] huM*O*N,

*and make up beforehand your aforepromised :bounty,*

TAUt*e*n heTOIm*e*n [2092] EInai HOUt*o*s h*o*s eu-loGIan [2129], kai m*e* h
*o*s ple-o-neXIan [4124].

*that the same might thus be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of
extortion.*


 *5. 9:6-15 PRINCIPLES OF GIVING*

*a. 9:6 A PRINCIPLE ON GIVING*

TOUto de, ho SPEIr*o*n [4687] phei-doMEn*o*s [5340] phei-doMEn*o*s kai
theRIsei [2325];

*But this I say, Who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly;*

kai ho SPEIr*o*n ep' eu-loGIais [2129] ep' eu-loGIais kai theRIsei.

*and who sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.*


 *b. 9:7 CHEERFULNESS: THE RIGHT SPIRIT IN GIVING*

HEkas-tos kaTH*O*S pro*E*r*e*-tai [4255] t*e* karDIa:

*Let** each **do according as he has purposed in his :heart:*

m*e* ek LUp*e*s [3077], *e* ex aNAGk*e*s [318]: hi-laRON [2431] gar DOt*e*n
[1395] a-gaPA ho TheOS.

*not grudgingly, or of necessity: for :God loves a cheerful giver.*


 *c. 9:8-9 GOD'S GRACE IS BEHIND ALL GOOD GIVING*

du-naTEI de ho TheOS PAsan CHArin pe-risSEUsai [4052] eis huMAS;

*And :God is able to make all grace abound unto you;*

HIna, en panTI PANto-te PAsan auTARkei-an [841] Echon-tes,

*that you, having always all sufficiency in everything,*

pe-risSEU*e*-te eis pan ERgon a-gaTHON: kaTH*O*S GEgrap-tai,

*may abound unto every good work: 9 as it is written,*

EsKORpi-sen [4550], Ed*o*ken tois PEn*e*-sin [3993];

*He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor;*

h*e* di-kai-oSUn*e* auTOU MEnei eis ton ai*O*na.

*His :righteousness abides unto the age.*


 *d. 9:10-11 GOD BLESSES THE LIBERAL SOUL*

ho de e-pi-cho-r*e*G*O*N [2023] SPERma [4690] t*o* SPEIron-ti [4687] kai
ARton [740] eis BR*O*sin [1035],

*And he that supplies seed to the sower and bread for food,*

cho-r*e*G*E*sei [5524] kai pl*e*-thuNEI [4129] ton SPOron [4703] huM*O*N,

*shall supply and multiply your :seed for sowing,*

kai auX*E*sei [837] ta geN*E*ma-ta [[1081] t*e*s di-kai-oSUn*e*s huM*O*N:

*and increase the fruits of your :righteousness:*

en panTI plou-tiZOme-noi [4148] eis PAsan haPLOt*e*-ta [572],

*11 you being enriched in everything unto all liberality,*

H*E*tis ka-terGAze-tai [2716] di' h*e*M*O*N eu-cha-risTIan [2169] t*o* The*O
*. -

*which works through us thanksgiving to :God. -*


 *e. 9:12-14 THE GRACE OF GIVING: A MOST EFFECTIVE WITNESS*

- HOti h*e* di-a-koNIa t*e*s lei-tourGIas [3009] TAUt*e*s

*- Because the ministration of this :service*

ou MOnon esTIN pro-sa-na-pl*e*ROUsa [4322] ta hus-teR*E*ma-ta [5303] t*o*n
haGI*o*n,

*is not only fully supplying the wants of the saints,*

alLA kai pe-risSEUou-sa [4052] diA polL*O*N eu-cha-ris-ti*O*N [2169] t*o*The
*O* -

*but is abounding also through many thanksgivings to :God -*

diA t*e*s do-kiM*E*S [1382] t*e*s di-a-koNIas TAUt*e*s,

*13 through the proving of you by this :ministration,*

doXAzon-tes [1392] ton TheON ePI t*e* hu-po-taG*E* [5292] t*e*s ho-mo-loGIas
[3671] huM*O*N

*they glorifying :God for the obedience of your :confession*

eis to eu-agGEli-on [2098] tou ChrisTOU, kai haPLOt*e*ti [572]

*unto the gospel of the Christ, and for the liberality*

t*e*s koi-n*o*NIas [2842] eis auTOUS kai eis PANtas;

*of the contribution unto them and unto all;*

kai auT*O*N, de*E*sei [1162] huPER huM*O*N, e-pi-poTHOUNt*o*n [1971] huMAS

*14 while they themselves also, with supplication for you,*

diA t*e*n hu-perBALlou-san [5236] chaRIN tou TheOU eph' huMIN.

*long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of :God upon you.*


 *f. 9:15 AN AMAZING CONCLUSION*

CHAris [5485] t*o* The*O* ePI t*e* a-nek-di-*e*G*E*t*o* [411] auTOU d*o*-reA
[1431]++.

*Thanks to :God for his unspeakable :gift.*



 *NOTE**: *Attn. Dave Loewen - You requested information on Bible Numerics.
I wrote up an answer and explanation for you- but it was rejected by your
recipient domain. I am unable to contact your other email provider. Send me
your Canadian address, and I'll send you your answer by mail - or help me
send this to you by email. (In case this mailing also is rejected, if any of
you readers have Dave's phone # and address, I would appreciate receiving
them from you.)


 2 Corinthians 8-9, according to Bible Numerics, is one integral section
divided into 5 sub-paragraphs. It is important to see this and read it as a
unit, to gain the Holy Spirit's message through Paul.


 Some present day believers do not receive God's message on giving, and
reserve His tithe and offerings for themselves. It is odd how often God
seeks to let them understand their error and disobedience. An accident,
permitted by Him, or a theft, takes from them all they wrongfully withheld
from God! George Muller gave 90% of all of his income to God, and faithfully
taught and set the example of giving way beyond the tithe! He literally
prayed in $8 million dollars in some 60 years for the support of 10,000
orphans and over 150 missionaries plus much more. 50,000 prayers were
exactly answered by God to achieve this, with no man having any request made
to him - just God. He *firmly* believed in NT tithing and giving. Cindy
Jacobs claims there is a curse upon those who refuse to tithe. They leave a
door for the enemy to come in and get the tithe from them in another way.
Consider this. Derek Prince wrote about breaking curses that often come from
disobedience. My wife and I over 60 years together have proven the blessing
of giving tithes and offerings, especially to mission work and Israel.


 One last word: See 2 Cor. 9:15 - *“Thanks to :God for his unspeakable
gift.” *The word “unspeakable” is only used this once in the NT. The word
gift - “d*o*-reA” is used 11 times. 10 out of the 11 times by most
commentaries and Bible teachers, it is acknowledged to refer to the Holy
Spirit. However - in this one reference, it is invariably associated with
our Lord Jesus. I do not believe this to be an accurate application of a
Greek Word Study. It is the *Holy Spirit* here who undergirds such unusual
giving out of poverty, so that words cannot describe this amazing Holy
Spirit gift! - J.A.W.


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