2 Corinthians 9 · Robertson's Word Pictures
1Superfluous (perisson). All the same he does write. "The writing" (to graphein) ought to be superfluous.
2I glory (kauchoma). Present middle indicative. I still am glorying, in spite of the poor performance of the Corinthians.
Hath been prepared (pareskeuasta). Perfect passive indicative of paraskeuazo, to make ready, "stands prepared."
Stirred up (erethise). First aorist active indicative of erethizo (from eretho, to excite), to excite in a good sense here, in a bad sense in Col 3:21 , the only N.T. examples.
Very many of them (tous pleionas). The more, the majority.
3I sent (epempsa). Not literary plural with this epistolary aorist as in 18,22 .
That ye may be prepared (ina pareskeuasmeno ete). Perfect passive subjunctive in the final clause, "that ye may really be prepared," "as I said" (kathos elegon) and not just say that ye are prepared. Paul's very syntax tells against them.
4If there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared (ean elthosin sun emo Makedones ka eurosin umas aparaskeuastous). Condition of third class (undetermined, but stated as a lively possibility) with ean and the second aorist active subjunctive (elthosin, eurosin), a bold and daring challenge. Aparaskeuastos is a late and rare verbal adjective from paraskeuazo with a privative, only here in the N.T.
Lest by any means we should be put to shame (me pos kataischunthomen emeis). Negative purpose with first aorist passive subjunctive of kataischuno (see on 7:14) in the literary plural.
That we say not, ye (ina me legomen umeis). A delicate syntactical turn for what he really has in mind. He does wish that they become ashamed of not paying their pledges.
Confidence (upostase). This word, common from Aristotle on, comes from uphistem, to place under. It always has the notion of substratum or foundation as here; 11:17; Heb 1:3 . The papyri give numerous examples (Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary) of the word for "property" in various aspects. So in Heb 11:1 "faith is the title-deed of things hoped for." In the LXX it represents fifteen different Hebrew words.
5I thought (egesamen). Epistolary aorist again. See Php 2:25 for the expression here.
Go before (proelthosin). Second aorist active of proerchoma. Go to you before I come.
Make up beforehand (prokatartisos). Late and rare double compound verb prokatartizo (in Hippocrates). Only here in N.T. See katartizo in 1Co 1:10 .
Your afore-promised bounty (ten proepengelmenen eulogian umon). "Blessing" (eulogia) literally, but applied to good deeds also as well as good words (Ge 33:11 ). Note third use of "pro" before. He literally rubs it in that the pledge was overdue.
That the same might be ready (tauten etoimen eina). Here the infinitive alone (eina) is used to express purpose without oste or eis to or pros to with the accusative of general reference (tauten). The feminine form etoimen is regular (1Pe 1:5 ) though etoimos also occurs with the feminine like the masculine (Mt 25:10 ).
And not of extortion (ka me os pleonexian). "And not as covetousness." Some offerings exhibit covetousness on the part of the giver by their very niggardliness.
6Sparingly (pheidomenos). Late and rare adverb made from the present middle participle pheidomenos from pheidoma, to spare. It occurs in Plutarch (Alex. 25).
7He hath purposed (proeireta). Perfect middle indicative of proaireoma, to choose beforehand, old verb, here only in N.T. Permanent purpose also.
Not grudgingly (me ek lupes). The use of me rather than ou shows that the imperative poieito (do) or didoto (give) is to be supplied. Not give as out of sorrow.
Or of necessity (e ex anankes). As if it were like pulling eye-teeth.
For God loveth a cheerful giver (ilaron gar doten agapa o theos). Our word "hilarious" comes from ilaron which is from ilaos (propitious), an old and common adjective, only here in N.T.
8Is able (dunate). Late verb, not found except here; 13:3; Ro 14:4 . So far a Pauline word made from dunatos, able.
All sufficiency (pasan autarkeian). Old word from autarkes (Php 4:11 ), common word, in N.T. only here and 1Ti 6:6 ). The use of this word shows Paul's acquaintance with Stoicism. Paul takes this word of Greek philosophy and applies it to the Christian view of life as independent of circumstances. But he does not accept the view of the Cynics in the avoidance of society. Note threefold use of "all" here (en panti, pantote, pasan, in everything, always, all sufficiency).
9As it is written (kathos gegrapta). Ps 92:3,9 . Picture of the beneficent man.
He hath scattered abroad (eskorpisen). First aorist active indicative of skorpizo, to scatter, Koine verb for skedannum of the Attic. Probably akin to skorpios (scorpion) from root skarp, to cut asunder. See on Mt 12:30 . It is like sowing seed.
To the poor (tois penesin). Old word from penama, to work for one's living. Latin penuria and Greek peinao, to be hungry, are kin to it. Only N.T. instance and to be distinguished from ptochos, beggar, abjectly poor.
10Supplieth (epichoregon). Late Koine compound verb from ep and choregeo, just below (1Pe 4:11 ). Choregos is old word for leader of a chorus (choros, egeoma) or chorus-leader. The verb means to furnish a chorus at one's own expense, then to supply in general. N.T. examples of epichoregeo are 2Co 9:10; Ga 3:15; Col 2:19; 2 Peter 1:5 .
Shall multiply (plethune). Future active indicative of plethuno, old verb from plethus, fulness. Cf. Ac 6:1 .
Fruits (genemata). Correct reading (from ginoma, to become) and not gennemata (from gennao, to beget). This spelling is supported by LXX where Thackeray shows that genemata in LXX refers to vegetables and gennemata to animals. The papyri support this distinction (Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary).
11Enriched (ploutizomeno). Present passive participle of ploutizo for which see on 1Co 1:5; 2Co 6:10 only other N.T. examples.
Liberality (aploteta). See on 8:2. Anacoluthon with nominative participle too far from perisseuete for agreement. More like the independent use of the participle.
12Service (leitourgias). Old word from leos (people, laos), leitos like demosios, public, and ergon, work. So public service either in worship to God (Lu 1:23 ) or benefaction to others (2Co 9:12; Php 2:30 ). Our word liturgy is this word.
Filleth up (estin prosanaplerousa). Present active periphrastic indicative of double compound verb prosanapleroo, Koine word, here and 11:9 only in N.T., to fill up by adding to. The Corinthians simply added to the total from others.
Unto God (to theo). Dative case and with a certain suddenness as at close of verse 11, really a parenthesis between in the somewhat tangled sentence.
13Seeing that they glorify God (doxazontes ton theon). Anacoluthon again. The nominative participle used independently like ploutizomeno in verse 11.
Obedience (upotage). Late and rare word from upotasso, to subject, middle to obey. Only in Paul in N.T.
Of your confession (tes omologias umon). Old word from omologeo (omologos, omou, lego), to say together. It is either to profess (Latin profiteor, to declare openly) or to confess (Latin confiteor, to declare fully, to say the same thing as another). Both confess and profess are used to translate the verb and each idea is present in the substantive. Only the context can decide. Actions speak louder than words. The brethren in Jerusalem will know by this collection that Gentiles make as good Christians as Jews.
For the liberality of your contribution (aplotet tes koinonias). This is the point that matters just now. Paul drives it home. On this use of koinonia see on 8:4.
14While they themselves long after you (auton epipothounton). Genitive absolute of present active participle of epipotheo ( 5:2).
In you (eph' umin). Upon you.
15Thanks be to God (charis to theo). Third time (verses 11,12,15 ).
For his unspeakable gift (ep te anekdiegeto autou dorea). One of Paul's gems flashed out after the somewhat tangled sentence (verses 10-14) like a gleam of light that clears the air. Words fail Paul to describe the gift of Christ to and for us. He may have coined this word as it is not found elsewhere except in ecclesiastical writers save as a variant (B L) for adiegeton in Aristeas 99 (thaumasmon anekdiegeton, "wonder beyond description," Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary). See similar word in Ro 11:33 (anexichniasta, unsearchable) and Eph 3:8 .
2 Corinthians 10