2 Corinthians 9 -Corps -33
Publication Date: June 1, 1983
Walter J. Cummins graduated from the Power for Abundant Class in 1962.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Ohio State University in 1968 and his Master of Education degree in Secondary School Administration in 1978 from Wright State University.
He was ordained to the Christian by The Way International in 1968. He has studied at The Way International under Victor Paul Wierwille and K.C.Pillai. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was director of the Research department of the Way International and served as assistant to the president.
June 1, 1983
Thirty-fourth Corps Night
II Corinthians from a technical standpoint did not need to be written because I Corinthians
contains everything necessary to bring a person back to right believing. But II Cor. is
God's giving beyond His ability - so to speak. Does not mean He gave beyond His ability,
literally - it is a FOS. He gave even what was beyond the necessary. II Cor., solidified the
Corinthians, which helped them to be encouraged and to get out of the slump that they
were in get rid of the condemnation and to stand.
UII Cor. 9:1
"as touching," = means concerning in the Greek and Aramaic.
"ministering," = diakonia, the service rendered.
"saints," = the saints of Jerusalem - those responsible for the ministry worldwide, who
lived off the abundant sharing, (I Cor. 16:1; II Cor. 8:4; Romans 15:25,26.)
Why was it superfluous for him to write to them in regards to ABS? He had already
written to them about it in I Cor. 16.
UII Cor. 9:2
They were ready a last year. That is the same construction as in II Cor. 8:10. Now it is
just a matter of doing it.
"forwardness of your mind," = is the readiness or preparedness of your mind (in the
Aramaic.) In the Greek it is prothumia, meaning eagerness from your heart. Same word
used in II Cor. 8:11. They were eager last year.
He was boasting about the Corinthians to the Macedonians at Achaia (Greece.)
"was ready," = in the Greek it has the idea of making the necessary physical preparations.
"zeal," = zēlos
"provoked," = only used here and in Col. 3:21.
If their zeal had provoked many to anger, that would not fit too well here in the context,
would it. The Aramaic word means "has excited". The Greek word means to arouse. Can
mean to provoke in the negative sense. It can also mean to irritate. Can also mean to
excite, just like the Aramaic word; arouse to action, positive action. It is used in both the
negative and the positive sense in other literature as well as the N.T.. In Colossians, it is
used negatively. II Cor. 9:2, it is the positive. It is a much stronger term than the normal
word used to mean arouse or awaken. They UexcitedU to a positive action.
II Cor. 9:1, 2 Literals according to usage:
1. Now concerning the ministering [ABS] to the saints, it is superfluous for me to
write to you.
2. For I know your eagerness so I boasted about you to the Macedonians that Achaia
made preparations last year and your zeal has stirred many to action.
UII Cor. 9:3
"brethren," = brothers of II Cor. 8:16-18,22,23. Titus and those two other brothers that
were with Titus carrying II Corinthians back to the Corinthians.
196 II Corinthians
"boasting," = in the Aramaic it literally reads, "boasting which we boasted."
The same word used in different parts of speech or different forms is the FOS UpolyptotonU.
You do not have this figure in the Greek, but you do in the Aramaic.
"vain," = render void, to become of no effect.
"behalf," = in Aramaic it means matter. In the Greek it can mean part, or matter. Literally,
it means a part; implying that there are other matters to be separated from that which is
being specified. What is being specified here in the context? ABS.
"ready" = to be prepared, to make all the necessary physical preparations.
II Cor. 9:3 Literal according to usage:
But I am still sending the brothers so that our great boasting about you will not be void
in this matter, that you will have made the preparations even as I said.
UII Cor. 9:4
"haply," = perchance
"ashamed," = embarrassed
"(that we say not, ye)" = parenthetical addition, not complete in itself - UepitrechonU = a short
interjection. It is added to emphasis the fact that although the apostles would be ashamed,
(we) if the Corinthians were unprepared by not making the collection. However, the
Corinthians would be ashamed as well. That is the heart of this phrase. A good translation
would be "(not to mention you.)" He had made a big issue to the Macedonians on how the
Corinthians felt about their contribution to the Root. If Corinth did not follow through on
what Paul had said they were doing, it would have been a great embarrassment for him and
the ministry as well as the Corinthians.
"in this same confident boasting," = in Aramaic you have the FOS, UpolyptotonU. Literally, it
is "the boasting which we boasted." The Greek is very straight and avoids the heart of the
original by not having this emphasis.
II Cor. 9:4 Literal according to usage:
If the Macedonians should come with me and find that you have not made
preparations, we (not to mention you) will be embarrassed in this great boasting.
UII Cor. 9:5
"thought" = Aramaic is careful or concerned. The Greek means consider or esteem. It is a
more deliberate and careful judgment than other words that are used. It is to think it
through.
"brethren," = Titus and the other two men.
"go before," = go before Paul went.
"make up beforehand," = means to arrange in advance or to complete in advance.
"bounty," - in Aramaic, = burktha, = blessing. Greek is eulogia or blessing
I Cor. 16:1 & 2 - "collection," = logia.
"Whereof ye had noticed before," = is a poor translation. In the Aramaic it means to be
obedient. In the Greek it means promised before.
"ready," = prepared
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"bounty," = blessing! Your ABS has to be a blessing to your life as well as those you share
it with. Everyone has to be blessed in Abundant sharing. The giver and the givee.
"covetousness," = greediness, extortion.
Verse 7 - giving our of covetousness or greediness is to give it grudgingly or out of
compulsion, condemnation.
II Cor. 9:5 Literal according to usage:
Therefore, I carefully considered it necessary to encourage the brothers to go to you
before I do and to make sure that your promised collection is done before our arrival,
that it is collected and ready as a blessing and not out of compulsion.
UII Cor. 9:6
He goes on to explain the difference between compulsion and blessing.
"bountifully," = upon blessings
It contrasts sparingly with the blessing. Before it was greediness verses the blessing.
There are two figure of speeches in this verse: 1) Uanadiplosis Uand 2) Usymploce.
1. UanadiplosisU, one word ends a clause and that same word starts the next clause.
In the Greek and Aramaic "sparingly" and "sparingly" and then "bountifully" and
"bountifully," right next to each other. He which soweth sparingly, sparingly shall he reap;
soweth bountifully . . . bountifully.
2. UsymploceU, repetition of different words in successive sentences in the same order;
"sow and reap" . . . "sow and reap."
II Cor. 9:6 Literal according to usage:
And so, he who sows sparingly, sparingly will he reap; and he who sows with
blessing, with blessing will he reap.
UII Cor. 9:7
"so let him give," - these words are in italics, but they are properly supplied by the figure,
UelipsisU. "Grudgingly," literally means out of grief or condemnation. Many charities will try
to pressure you into giving and will make you feel bad if you do not give. This is unethical.
"necessity," - means compulsion or by force. "Cheerful," = hilaros. This is the only place
this word is used in the New Testament. We get the word hilarious in English from it. But
this has come to mean noisily merry or boisterous, rather than cheerful with a generous
attitude, which is what it meant originally.
"God loves a cheerful giver," is a figure of speech; it is not the FOS UgnomeU, which is a
quotation, but it is UparoemiaU, meaning a common saying. This is found in the Sept. of the
Old Testament in Proverbs 22:9b, it reads "God blesses a cheerful giver," but it is not in
the Hebrew or in the King James. You only find it in the Sept. and that is because it was
probably introduced from another source. This is simply a Proverb; a saying.
II Cor. 9:7 Literal according to usage:
Let each individual give as he decides in his own heart, not from grief (condemnation)
or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
198 II Corinthians
UII Cor. 9:8
Figure of speech - UpolptotonU = the repetition of words in different forms.
"all," - five times in this verse. Can mean the greatest degree or quality. Like, the greatest
of all grace . . . the greatest of all sufficiency.
"sufficiency," means self-sufficiency or competence. It is not the same word used for
sufficiency in II Cor. 3:5. It is the same word that is used in I Timothy 6:6, 7 & 10.
UII Cor. 9:8
"contentment," = is self-sufficiency, self-adequacy. Self-adequate and not having to
depend on the world for material things.
Phil. 4:11 - "content," = self-adequate
Your sufficiency is still from God because He is your source of strength, but you are not
dependant upon the world or the material things of the world.
II Cor. 9:8 Literal according to usage:
God is able to make the greatest of all grace [spiritual and material] abound to you so
that you have the greatest of all self-sufficiency in all things at all times may abound
in all good works.
UII Cor. 9:9, 10
Are not a parenthesis.
Quote from Psalms 112:9 - This is a Psalm about the qualities of a man that reverences the
Lord and delights greatly in His commandments. It is that man that scatters abroad — he
gives to the poor. What poor? The "poor" that are living off the abundant sharing, it is not
poor-poverty people. His righteousness — the man that reverences the Lord and delights
greatly in His commandments.
"minister," - does not belong in this phrase. (The second word minister) in the Greek and
Aramaic.
"both" = and
"he that ministereth seed to the sower and bread for your food" - Quote from Is. 55:10 =
UgnomeU. God gives the seed to the sower. Then comes the word "minister" which means
supply, abundantly supply. He supplies and multiplies your seed sown. When you sow,
He multiplies it back to you many-fold.
"increase," = auxanō, = to cause to grow.
"fruits," - is not the normal word for fruit, but rather, it has to do with that which is
produced, the offspring or produce. It emphasizes the quality of the offspring. A good
translation would be "vintage."
II Cor. 9:9, 10 Literals according to usage:
9. It is written "He [who reverences the Lord] has distributed and given to the poor;
his righteousness remains forever."
10. Now "He [God] who abundantly supplies seed to the sower and food for eating,"
will supply and multiply back your seed and will cause growth in the vintage of
your righteousness.
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UII Cor. 9:11
The benefits of abundant sharing are not only material, but spiritual. You are enriched in
everything.
"bountifulness," = means simplicity with the combined idea of generosity.
UII Cor. 9:12
"administration," - Aramaic word is related to the word plach, which means work, labor.
"The labor of this service . . .
"want," = need, deficiency
UII Cor. 9:13
"experiment," is the word that means test for quality or proof with a positive outcome. The
proof of your service being the proof of your love — your abundant sharing.
"they," = the saints of verse 12, where the abundant sharing is sent.
"professed" or confessed. It is more than it is just confessed, but it is evident,
demonstrated.
"liberal," = generous, simple
"distribution," = fellowship, koinōneo.
UII Cor. 9:14
"prayer," = a specific request for a need.
"their prayer," - who's prayer? Those at the root who were praying for those who were
sharing of their material things. Romans 15.
"long after you," - they eagerly desire to be with you.
UII Cor. 9:15
"unspeakable," = indescribable, cannot describe in detail.
"gift," = dōrea = gift of benefit to the individual that receives it.
II Cor. 9:11-15 Literals according to usage:
11. In everything you are enriched with all generosity and simplicity of life so that
by us thanksgiving to God is perfected.
12. For the work of this service not only completely supplies the need of the saints,
but it also causes many to abound in thanksgivings to God.
13. By the proof [of your love] that is this service [your abundant sharing] others
glorify God for your demonstrated subjection to the gospel of Christ and for the
generosity and simplicity of your sharing fully with them and hence to all.
14. And with prayers of supplication on your behalf, they long to be with you
because of the superabundant grace of God which is upon you.
15. Thanks to God for His indescribable gift!
In starting with verse 8 and following you have a number of intense words. Such as
verse 8, all grace, abound, always, in all things, abound.
200 II Corinthians
Verse 9, scattered (spread it out) forever
Verse 10, ministers, which is to completely or abundantly supply; multiply, increase.
Verse 11, enriched, all bountifulness; causes (completely works)
Verse 12, supplies, abundant, many thanksgivings
Verse 13, liberal distribution
Verse 14, exceeding grace
This all leads you to verse 15 where you have the gift, dōrea. This is a dynamic way of
expressing this - it is an expression of feeling, by way of exclamation. It is a FOS,
UecphouesisU, which is used to change the mode of speech and instead of merely making a
statement to express one's emotion by an outburst of words. Thanks be to God for His
indescribable gift! God has out-given us all. You can abundantly share and God is still
going to multiply it back to you. He is The One that supplies seed to the sower and He
multiplies back what you sow! You cannot out give God, and besides that, He has given
you His indescribable gift! All these intense words are like one punch right after another,
leading up to this final exclamation. This ends this great section on abundant sharing. It
brings it to a climax.
End of Teaching