2 Corinthians 9 4

2 Corinthians 9:4 kjv

Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

2 Corinthians 9:4 nkjv

lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.

2 Corinthians 9:4 niv

For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we?not to say anything about you?would be ashamed of having been so confident.

2 Corinthians 9:4 esv

Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated ? to say nothing of you ? for being so confident.

2 Corinthians 9:4 nlt

We would be embarrassed ? not to mention your own embarrassment ? if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren't ready after all I had told them!

2 Corinthians 9 verses

2 Corinthians 9 4 Meaning

This verse serves as a crucial appeal for the Corinthian believers to complete their promised collection for the impoverished saints in Jerusalem. Paul emphasizes the potential for shame and humiliation for himself and his companions, and even more so for the Corinthians themselves, should the Macedonian delegates who are traveling with Paul find the Corinthians unprepared and their donation uncollected. It underscores the importance of follow-through on pledges, particularly when those pledges have been used as a basis for commendation and example to others.

2 Corinthians 9 4 Context

This verse is situated within a sustained argument by Paul concerning the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem, primarily addressed in chapters 8 and 9 of 2 Corinthians. In Chapter 8, Paul praised the extraordinary generosity of the Macedonian churches despite their own poverty, presenting them as an example for the Corinthians. He then expressed his confidence in the Corinthians' zeal, highlighting their willingness to participate in this grace (2 Cor 8:7-8, 24). Specifically, in 2 Corinthians 9:2, Paul revealed that he had boasted to the Macedonians about the Corinthians' readiness to contribute, stating that Achaia (Corinth's region) had been prepared since last year. Therefore, verse 4 introduces a serious cautionary note: if his boasting proves to be unfounded due to the Corinthians' lack of preparation upon his arrival with the Macedonian delegates, it would result in public shame and embarrassment for Paul, his team, and most pointedly, for the Corinthians themselves. This passage acts as a rhetorical strategy, not to coerce, but to motivate the Corinthians to follow through on their commitments and maintain their reputation for faithfulness and generosity, upholding the honor of Christ.

2 Corinthians 9 4 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): A conjunction meaning "for, indeed, because." It introduces the reason or explanation for Paul sending Titus and the other brothers ahead (as mentioned in verse 3). The consequence of their unpreparedness is the justification for his urgency.
• if (ἐὰν - ean): Introduces a conditional clause. It sets up a potential scenario, not necessarily implying a lack of faith in the Corinthians, but rather emphasizing a desired outcome and the consequence of failure.
• some Macedonians (τινες Μακεδόνες - tines Makedones): Refers to certain individuals from Macedonia, who would be accompanying Paul. These would likely be delegates chosen by the Macedonian churches, possibly to also participate in delivering the Jerusalem collection, underscoring the communal nature and accountability of this ministry. Their presence heightens the public scrutiny.
• come with me (ἔλθωσιν σὺν ἐμοὶ - elthōsin syn emoi): Highlights the physical accompaniment of these Macedonians with Paul. Their presence makes the state of the collection an undeniable public fact, observable by all.
• and find (καὶ εὕρωσιν - kai heurōsin): Implies discovery or ascertainment. It’s not just about what Paul knows, but what external witnesses will directly observe.
• you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): Refers specifically to the Corinthian believers, the recipients of the letter and the object of Paul’s boast.
• unprepared (ἀπαρασκευάστους - aparaskeuastous): From a- (negation) and paraskeuázō (to prepare, make ready). It signifies "not having prepared, unready." The issue is not stinginess, but a lack of organization and timely readiness, a failure to have the promised gift on hand. This could imply that they still hadn't collected or organized the money.
• we (ἡμεῖς - hēmeis): Paul and his immediate associates/delegates. The potential shame extends to Paul’s missionary team, as they championed the Corinthians.
• (to say nothing of you - ἵνα μὴ λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς - hina mē legōmen hymeis): This is a rhetorical parenthetical clause emphasizing that while Paul and his company would be shamed, the Corinthians would suffer an even greater degree of disgrace. Paul is using an a fortiori argument: if even we will be shamed, how much more will you be. It elevates the Corinthians' responsibility.
• will be ashamed (καταισχυνθῶμεν - kataischynthōmen): From kata (down) and aischynō (to shame). It means "to put to shame, to disgrace utterly." The term implies deep humiliation, public disgrace, a loss of honor in a culture sensitive to such things. It contrasts sharply with the "boasting" in v.2.
• of this confidence (τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ τῆς καυχήσεως - tē hypostasei tautē tēs kauchēseōs): This phrase is crucial.
  • Confidence (ὑποστάσει - hypostasei): While it can mean "substance" or "reality," here in context with kauchēsis, it refers to the "confident expectation," "pledge," or "ground of assurance." Paul’s boast about them was based on this declared confidence and promise by the Corinthians to be ready.
  • Boasting (τῆς καυχήσεως - tēs kauchēseōs): The "boasting" (2 Cor 9:2) Paul previously made about the Corinthians’ eagerness. The shame arises from the ground of the boast being proven baseless. Paul is reminding them that their promise gave him reason to boast, and failing to keep that promise undermines that basis, bringing shame.

2 Corinthians 9 4 Bonus section

The concept of "shame" (καταισχυνθῶμεν) in this verse highlights more than just embarrassment. In the ancient world, shame was a powerful social control, implying a public loss of face or honor, and a violation of social expectations. Paul understood this deeply and utilized it not manipulatively, but as a legitimate ethical motivation for the Corinthian community, connecting their spiritual and financial commitment to their public standing and the reputation of the Gospel itself. The honor-shame dynamic reinforces the communal nature of the church and the interdependency of its members, where one group's actions could impact another's reputation. The phrase "to say nothing of you" functions as a striking understatement, actually intending to magnify the Corinthians' potential shame, indicating that their humiliation would be far greater than Paul's, precisely because they are the direct subjects of the promise. This rhetorical figure is called paralepsis or praeteritio, drawing attention to something by pretending to pass over it, effectively drawing more attention.

2 Corinthians 9 4 Commentary

Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 9:4 are not merely a gentle nudge but a potent appeal rooted in honor and shame, concepts deeply understood in the Greco-Roman world. Having already lauded the Corinthians' zeal and announced their preparedness to the Macedonians, Paul is now in a vulnerable position. His confidence, built upon the Corinthians' promise, faces potential public collapse. The presence of Macedonian delegates makes this a very tangible risk. The shame would not just be a private feeling but a public disgrace, undermining the integrity of both Paul's ministry and the Corinthians' commitment. This rhetorical strategy aims to stir the Corinthians not out of legalistic obligation, but out of a desire to uphold the integrity of their Christian witness and prevent harm to Paul’s reputation and the perception of the Church. It reminds believers that our commitments and follow-through, especially in acts of generosity and Christian service, have broader implications beyond ourselves.Examples: A church pledging a large sum to a mission project, boasting about it to other congregations, but failing to collect the funds when the project leaders arrive; A team leader proudly presenting his team's capabilities, only for the team to be unready when it's time to perform; An individual committing to serve in a ministry, only to be habitually unprepared.