2 Corinthians 9 2

2 Corinthians 9:2 kjv

For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

2 Corinthians 9:2 nkjv

for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.

2 Corinthians 9:2 niv

For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.

2 Corinthians 9:2 esv

for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.

2 Corinthians 9:2 nlt

For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.

2 Corinthians 9 verses

2 Corinthians 9 2 Meaning

2 Corinthians 9:2 expresses Paul's confidence in the Corinthian believers' commitment to contributing to the collection for the saints in Jerusalem. He asserts his personal knowledge of their readiness, which he uses as an example to boast about them to the churches in Macedonia. This verse highlights that Achaia (the province where Corinth was located) had already shown an active willingness and preparedness for this generosity since the previous year, and their fervent dedication served as a powerful motivator, stirring up and inspiring most of the Macedonian believers to participate as well.

2 Corinthians 9 2 Context

Chapter 9 is a continuation of Paul's instructions and exhortations regarding the collection for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem, which began in chapter 8. Having set forth the sacrificial generosity of the Macedonian churches as a model in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, Paul now returns to the Corinthians. He aims to ensure they are fully prepared to fulfill their earlier commitment, preventing any potential embarrassment for both them and himself when Titus arrives to finalize the collection (2 Cor 9:3-5). Historically, this collection was highly significant, intended to forge bonds of unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians and alleviate suffering during a time of famine. Achaia was the Roman province in Southern Greece where Corinth, a wealthy and influential city, was located. Macedonia was the Roman province directly to its north, home to churches like Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Paul leveraged the example of each region's churches to inspire the other, demonstrating the power of inter-church communication and mutual encouragement in Christian living.

2 Corinthians 9 2 Word analysis

• for I know (γὰρ οἶδα - gar oida): "For" indicates an explanation or justification. "I know" signifies Paul's personal and confident assurance, not mere speculation or hope. His knowledge is presented as a fact, forming the basis for his subsequent boast. It underscores his intimate relationship and understanding of the Corinthians.
• your eagerness (τὴν προθυμίαν ὑμῶν - tēn prothumian hymōn): Prothymia denotes a willing, ready, and cheerful disposition. It implies an inner zeal and spontaneous inclination towards an action, reflecting the heart's attitude rather than just an obligation. It's the opposite of reluctance or compulsion.
• of which I boast about you (ἣν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καυχῶμαι - hēn hyper hymōn kauchōmai): Kauchōmai means to boast, glory, or pride oneself. Paul is openly commending the Corinthians, expressing his confident pride in their declared readiness. This "boasting" is a form of positive affirmation and also a rhetorical strategy to encourage them to live up to his praise.
• to the Macedonians (Μακεδόσιν - Makedosin): The churches in the Roman province of Macedonia (e.g., Philippi, Thessalonica) were the recipients of Paul's boast. This highlights inter-church communication and mutual edification.
• that Achaia (ὅτι Ἀχαΐα - hoti Achaia): Achaia refers to the province where Corinth was a major city, standing for the collective churches in that region. Paul refers to the churches corporately, indicating a unified regional effort.
• has been prepared (παρεσκευάσθαι - pareskeuasthai): This is a perfect passive infinitive of paraskeuazō, meaning "to prepare, to make ready, to provide." The perfect tense emphasizes a state of readiness that began in the past and continues into the present. It implies active, deliberate arrangement and planning, not just a passing thought.
• since last year (ἀπὸ πέρυσι - apo perysi): This precise temporal marker stresses the duration of their commitment. Their readiness wasn't recent but established a year prior, making their initial pledge noteworthy and commendable. It also underscores a potential delay, as the collection was not yet complete.
• and your zeal (καὶ ὁ ὑμῶν ζῆλος - kai ho hymōn zēlos): Zēlos signifies intense fervor, passion, or emulation (in a positive sense). It is closely related to prothymia but can carry a stronger sense of active, burning enthusiasm. It's their vibrant, fervent commitment, distinguishing itself from mere mental readiness.
• has stirred up (ἠρέθισεν - ērethise): From erethizō, meaning "to provoke, irritate, stir up, stimulate, arouse." Here, it's used in a positive sense of stimulating, exciting, or challenging to action. It conveys a strong influence, indicating that the Corinthians' example was potent and effective.
• most of them (τοὺς πλείους - tous pleious): Referring to the majority or the greater number of the Macedonians. This demonstrates the wide-ranging and significant impact of the Corinthians' example, proving that a positive example can widely inspire.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "for I know your eagerness, of which I boast about you": This phrase highlights Paul's confidence in the Corinthians' initial disposition and his public affirmation of their character. His boasting is a commendation, not a personal aggrandizement, strategically used to affirm and encourage them.
• "that Achaia has been prepared since last year": This specifies the basis for Paul's boast, grounding it in their sustained readiness and commitment over a significant period. It shows that their good intentions had a history and a measure of organization.
• "and your zeal has stirred up most of them": This points to the powerful, outward impact of the Corinthians' internal state and actions. Their vibrant dedication became an active stimulus, demonstrating the ripple effect of Christian example on other communities of faith.

2 Corinthians 9 2 Bonus section

• Paul's "boasting" is a delicate rhetorical strategy. It acts as both praise and gentle expectation-setting. By praising them in front of others, he creates a context where they would naturally feel compelled to complete their promised commitment, not out of guilt, but out of integrity and for the sake of their reputation and God's glory.
• The interplay between the Macedonian churches (mentioned in Chapter 8) and the Achaian churches is a powerful model for healthy inter-church relationships. They learn from, challenge, and inspire each other, creating a network of mutual spiritual growth and charitable action. This debunks any notion of isolation between congregations.
• The distinction between "eagerness" (prothymia) and "zeal" (zēlos) here is subtle but significant. Prothymia might speak to the initial willingness or the readiness of the mind and spirit. Zēlos might describe the sustained, passionate fervor that leads to actual effort and completion, perhaps being the active expression of the underlying prothymia.
• The fact that they had been "prepared since last year" indicates both forethought and potentially a delay in completion. This gives context to Paul's current exhortation: he is not asking them to start anew, but to finalize what they had already planned and committed to.

2 Corinthians 9 2 Commentary

2 Corinthians 9:2 stands as a testament to the power of a committed spirit and the profound influence of a good example within the Christian community. Paul’s intimate knowledge of the Corinthians’ “eagerness” (prothymia) highlights that true generosity stems from an inward willingness, not external coercion. His strategic "boasting" about this readiness to the Macedonians serves a dual purpose: it publicly honors the Corinthians for their good intentions and simultaneously leverages a form of holy peer pressure. This is not manipulative but rather a method of encouragement, inviting believers to live up to a commendable standard.

The detail that "Achaia has been prepared since last year" signifies more than mere intention; it indicates an initial, sustained commitment, implying planning and resources set aside. This prolonged readiness is critical, demonstrating the endurance of their generous spirit. This zeal (zēlos) then transcends their own borders, "stirring up" the Macedonians. The verb erethizō suggests an active and powerful motivation, implying that the Corinthians' example ignited a similar fervent desire in many others. This verse beautifully illustrates how individual or communal readiness for service and generosity can become a catalyst for wider good, demonstrating inter-church solidarity and mutual encouragement in Christian living. It underscores that our walk of faith and acts of generosity are rarely insular; they ripple outward, influencing and inspiring those around us, ultimately to the glory of God.