The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 9:2 Explained

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.

YLT: for I have known your readiness of mind, which in your behalf I boast of to Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared a year ago, and the zeal of you did stir up the more part,

Darby: For I know your readiness, which I boast of as respects you to Macedonians, that Achaia is prepared since a year ago, and the zeal reported of you has stimulated the mass of the brethren.

ASV: for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Corinthians 9:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul said he told the Macedonians that the Corinthians had been ready a year ago. Evidently he meant that they had been ready to start collecting a gift rather than that their gift was ready to go to Judea ( 2 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 8:10). Their enthusiasm a year ago had faded since then ( 2 Corinthians 8:11), but they had been eager to participate in the offering project. It is this initial attitude that Paul commended here. Apparently the Corinthian Christians were taking the lead in their province that also included churches in Cenchrea and probably other communities. This explains his reference to Achaia.

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 9:1-7 - "god Loveth A Cheerful Giver"
Paul evidently had considerable anxiety about the collection at Corinth for the starving saints at Jerusalem. He had started the idea, not merely because of his affection toward his own people, but in order to promote and foster the unity of the Church of Christ. There could be no greater evidence of the transforming power of the gospel than that it should obliterate the strongly-marked differences between East and West, between Jew and Gentile, and make it clear that Christ is all in all Paul does not, therefore, urge and entreat the Corinthians so much as he reminds them of his confidence in their response. No motive is so potent as the sense that a worthy response is expected of us by one whom we revere and love.
He likens money-giving to seed-sowing. What was placed in the collection box would assuredly return to the giver with large increase. Christians, therefore, should not give grudgingly, or of necessity, but freely, spontaneously, generously, as the farmer, who does not hesitate to dip his hand deeply into his granaries, expecting, as he does, that every additional atom of grain scattered will come back to him augmented certainly to thirty-fold and perhaps to a hundred-fold. You will meet again somewhere and sometime every coin that you have given with a pure heart. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 9

1  He yields the reason why he sent Titus and his brothers beforehand
6  And he proceeds in stirring them up to a bountiful alms, as being but a kind of sowing of seed,
10  which shall return a great increase to them,
13  and occasion a great sacrifice of thanksgivings unto God

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 9:2

I glory [καυχωμαι]
Present middle indicative. I still am glorying, in spite of the poor performance of the Corinthians. [source]
Hath been prepared [παρεσκευασται]
Perfect passive indicative of παρασκευαζω — paraskeuazō to make ready, “stands prepared.” Stirred up (ηρετισε — ērethise). First aorist active indicative of ερετιζω — erethizō (from ερετω — erethō to excite), to excite in a good sense here, in a bad sense in Colossians 3:21, the only N.T. examples. Very many of them The more, the majority. [source]
Stirred up [ηρετισε]
First aorist active indicative of ερετιζω — erethizō (from ερετω — erethō to excite), to excite in a good sense here, in a bad sense in Colossians 3:21, the only N.T. examples. [source]
Very many of them [τους πλειονας]
The more, the majority. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 9:2

1 Corinthians 14:8 Shall prepare himself [παρασκευασεται]
Direct middle future indicative of παρασκευαζω — paraskeuazō old verb, in N.T. only here, 2 Corinthians 9:2.; Acts 10:10. From παρα σκευη — paraskeuē (preparation). [source]
2 Corinthians 1:1 In all Achaia [εν οληι τηι Αχαιαι]
The Romans divided Greece into two provinces (Achaia and Macedonia). Macedonia included also Illyricum, Epirus, and Thessaly. Achaia was all of Greece south of this (both Attica and the Peloponnesus). The restored Corinth was made the capital of Achaia where the pro-consul resided (Acts 18:12). He does not mention other churches in Achaia outside of the one in Corinth, but only “saints” Athens was in Achaia, but it is not clear that there was as yet a church there, though some converts had been won (Acts 17:34), and there was a church in Cenchreae, the eastern port of Corinth (Romans 16:1). Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:2 speaks of Achaia and Macedonia together. His language here would seem to cover the whole (οληι — holēi all) of Achaia in his scope and not merely the environment around Corinth. [source]
Colossians 3:21 Provoke to anger [ἐρεθίζετε]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 9:2, where it is used of stirring up to good works. To anger is added by A.V. [source]
Colossians 3:21 Provoke not [μη ερετιζετε]
Present imperative of old verb from ερετω — erethō to excite. Only twice in N.T., here in bad sense, in good sense in 2 Corinthians 9:2 (to stimulate). Here it means to nag and as a habit (present tense). [source]
1 Peter 5:2 Willingly [προδύμως]
Not strong enough. The word is compounded of πρό , forward, and θυμός , heart or spirit. Hence Rev., with a ready mind; a forward spirit; denoting not mere willingness, but zeal. Only here in New Testament. Compare the kindred adjective πρόθυμος , ready (Romans 1:15; Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38), and the kindred noun προθυμία , readiness (2 Corinthians 8:11, 2 Corinthians 8:12, 2 Corinthians 8:19; 2 Corinthians 9:2). [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 9:2 mean?

I know for the readiness of you which concerning you I boast of to Macedonians that Achaia has been prepared from a year ago and - your zeal has been provoking the greater number
οἶδα γὰρ τὴν προθυμίαν ὑμῶν ἣν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καυχῶμαι Μακεδόσιν ὅτι Ἀχαΐα παρεσκεύασται ἀπὸ πέρυσι καὶ τὸ ὑμῶν ζῆλος ἠρέθισεν τοὺς πλείονας

οἶδα  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
προθυμίαν  readiness 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: προθυμία  
Sense: zeal, spirit, eagerness.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ὑπὲρ  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὑπέρ 
Sense: in behalf of, for the sake of.
καυχῶμαι  I  boast  of 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: καυχάομαι  
Sense: to glory (whether with reason or without).
Μακεδόσιν  to  Macedonians 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: Μακεδών  
Sense: a Macedonian.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Ἀχαΐα  Achaia 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἀχαί̈α  
Sense: in a restricted sense, the maritime region of northern Peloponnesus.
παρεσκεύασται  has  been  prepared 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: παρασκευάζω  
Sense: to make one’s self ready, to prepare one’s self.
πέρυσι  a  year  ago 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πέρυσι  
Sense: last year.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑμῶν  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ζῆλος  zeal 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ζῆλος  
Sense: excitement of mind, ardour, fervour of spirit.
ἠρέθισεν  has  been  provoking 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐρεθίζω  
Sense: to stir up, excite, stimulate, to provoke.
πλείονας  greater  number 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural, Comparative
Root: πολύς  
Sense: greater in quantity.