More about the collection
1 ① It is not necessary for me to write to you about assistance to the saints. 2I know your readiness and I praised you before the Macedonians. I said, “In Achaia they have been ready for the collection since last year.” And your enthusiasm carried most of them along. 3So I send you these brothers of ours. May all my praise of you not fall flat in this case! May you be ready, as I said. 4If some Macedonians come with me, let them not find you unprepared. What a shame for me – and perhaps for you – after so much confidence!
5So I thought it necessary to ask our brothers to go ahead of us and see you to organize this blessed work you have promised. It shall come from your generosity and not be an imposed task.
6Remember: the one who sows meagerly will reap meagerly, and there shall be generous harvests for the one who sows generously. 7Each of you should give as you decided personally, and not reluctantly as if obliged. God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to fill you with every good thing, so that you have enough of everything at all times, and may give abundantly for any good work.
9Scripture says: He distributed, he gave to the poor, his good works last forever. 10God who provides the sower with seed will also provide him with the bread he eats. He will multiply the seed for you and also increase the interests of your good works. 11Become rich in every way, and give abundantly. What you give will become, through us, a thanksgiving to God.
12For this sacred relief, after providing the saints with what they need, will result in much thanksgiving to God. 13This will be a test for them; they will give thanks because you obey the requirements of Christ’s Gospel and share generously with them and with all. 14They shall pray to God for you and feel affection for you because the grace of God overflows in you.
15Yes, thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
- 2 Cor 9,1 Here again Paul speaks of the collection as if he had not done so in the previous chapter. Some think that at the same time Paul was writing to the Corinthians to invite them to give (chap. 8), he wrote another message for the churches of Achaia, which was the province of Corinth: this message may have been placed here later, at the end of the letter, because the theme is the same (chap. 9). In chapter 8:18, Paul surely refers to Luke: probably he had not yet published his Gospel, but was already helping the Churches to preach it.
