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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

His unspeakable gift - the gift of His own Son, which includes all other gifts (; ). If we have received "His unspeakable gift," what great thing is it, if we give a few perishing gifts for His sake? It is this Gift which (the apostle already sees) ensures the completion of the Corinthians' gifts.

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See also 2 Corinthians 9:15 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Corinthians 9:15. _THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT._] Some contend that Christ only is here intended; others, that the almsgiving is meant. After all the difference of commentato...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THANKS BE UNTO GOD - Whitby supposes that this refers to the charitable disposition which they had manifested, and that the sense is, that God was to be adored for the liberal spirit which they were d...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    2. EXHORTATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT. CHAPTER 9 _ 1. Further Exhortations to Liberality. (2 Corinthians 9:1)_ 2. The Blessings Connected with Giving. (2 Corinthians 9:6 .) Again he exhorts them to libe...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    This concern brings him, however, to a renewed consideration of the grace or liberality, and of the blessings attached to it. He touches in succession on the proper temper of such liberality (2 Corint...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE WILLING GIVER (2 Corinthians 9:1-5)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Further, there is this--He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully. Let each man give as he has decided in his heart. Let him not give as if it h...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THANKS. Greek. _charis_, as in 2 Corinthians 9:8. UNSPEAKABLE. that cannot be fully declared. Greek. _anekdiegetos._ Only here. GIFT, Greek. _dorea_. See John 4:10. It cannot be that Paul had in his...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Thanks_ The word is the same which is elsewhere translated _grace_. _for his unspeakable gift_ This, as Dean Alford suggests (after Chrysostom), can be none other than Jesus Christ Himself. No other...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    EXHORTATION TO GIVE LIBERALLY AND CHEERFULLY Having gloried in the former readiness of the Corinthians, in order to encourage the Macedonians, and having told the Corinthians of the spontaneous genero...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    15. After ΧΆΡΙΣ א2C2D2KLP, Syrr. Copt. Arm. add δέ. אBCDG, Latt. omit The δέ spoils the abrupt transition, which is effective. 2 Corinthians 9:1-5. DIRECTIONS CONTINUED 15. ΧΆΡΙΣ ΤΩ͂Ι ΘΕΩ͂Ι. The thou...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE EXPERIMENT OF THIS MINISTRATION 2 CORINTHIANS 9:13-15:_ The way the Corinthians had conducted themselves in the matter of giving would be an experiment that would prove effective. They believed i...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΆΝΕΚΔΙΉΓΗΤΟΣ (G411) vb. _adj._ неописуемый, который нельзя пересказать, описать или передать в деталях (Lenski; EDNT). Совершенные деяния Бога нельзя адекватно описать человеческим языком (Windisch)....

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2036 THE BENEFIT ARISING FROM ATTENTION TO THE POOR 2 Corinthians 9:12. The administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivi...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT.— "When I think of these things, I desire sincerely to bless God, on your account, for all the grace he hath given you, and for all the usefulness with whic...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    APPLEBURY'S COMMENTS _Generous Giving Scripture_ 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTARY SECTION 3 Confessions (2 Corinthians 9:12-15) 12for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. 13Und...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    5 God has no need. Gifts acceptable to Him must spring from a pure motive is better not to give at all than to give with a heavy heart or from an unworthy motive. Extortion, whether by appeals to prid...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT] The establishment of these happy relations between the Churches, each giving thanks for the others and praying for their growth in all goodness, was a blessing from God beyond th...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PARAPHRASE. 'For this charity has a twofold benefit: it supplies the needs of the brethren in Jerusalem, and it makes them give thanks and praise to God. (13) They give glory to God because they see i...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    _(C) 9:1-15. EXHORTATIONS TO GENEROUS GIVING_ There is no need to write to you about the purpose and necessity of the collection, for your zeal in the matter is well known, and has been used by me as...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD SHOWS HIS POWER WHEN WE ARE WEAK 2 CORINTHIANS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 9 V1 I do not really need to write to you about help for other Christians. V2 I know how eager you are to help. I have to...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT. — So the section on the collection for the saints comes to its close. We are left to conjecture to what gift the Apostle refers: whether to the love of God...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    LIBERAL GIVING WILL CALL FORTH THE BLESSINGS OF THE RECIPIENTS....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    χαρὶς τῷ Θεῷ κ. τ. λ.: _thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift_. δωρεά is always in the N.T. (see reff., etc.) used of the gifts of God, not of men; and the “unspeakable” gift (_cf._ Romans 11:33;...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ENRICHED UNTO LIBERALITY 2 Corinthians 9:8 We are not really poorer by what we give away; and God will never starve His own almoners. Note the comprehensiveness of 2 Corinthians 9:8. God's grace is l...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In concluding this subject of the collection for the saints the apostle declares that he desires that their giving should be glad and spontaneous. He excludes two methods of giving, "grudgingly," that...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    VERSE 15 Because of the great work the Corinthians were involved in and its effect on the Jerusalem brethren, Paul is moved to thank God for the great gift of Jesus that brought such fellowship about....

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (m) Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift. (m) Lest by this great commendation and praise the Corinthians should be puffed up, he concludes this exhortation with this exclamation....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    For his unspeakable gift. Such is the conclusion, which the apostle puts to the subject upon alms-deeds. In the following chapter he proceeds to a new subject; but first thanks the Almighty, that he h...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (15) Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. I have judged it proper to consider this verse alone, and unconnected with every other, from the very great sweetness, and importance of it. For, in w...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    2 Corinthians 1:1-24. It is impossible to read the two epistles to the Corinthians with the smallest care without perceiving the strong contrast between the wounded tone of the first epistle (the hear...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE UNSPEAKABLE GIFT_ ‘Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.’ 2 Corinthians 9:15 What was in the mind of St. Paul when he gave vent to this burst of gratitude? Some say that it was the love o...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In the next Chapter the apostle (being on his way to Judea) exhorts the Corinthians to prepare relief for the poor of Israel; sending Titus that all might be ready as of a willing mind a disposition o...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT. Meaning either the goodness of God, both to the giver and receiver; for that the one gave so liberally, and the other received so largely, was from the gra...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Thanks _be_ unto God for his unspeakable gift. Ver. 15. _For his unspeakable gift_] That is, for Christ, (saith Theophylact, whom Piscator followeth) who is called the gift, by an excellence,John 4:1...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift_ By this gift, for which the apostle so fervently thanks God, Dr. Whitby understands the charitable disposition that was in the Corinthians, Macedonians, and...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT; Jesus Christ, and the grace through him which produces in men fruits of righteousness. To liberal contributions Christians are urged not only by a wise reg...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Liberal giving brings the blessings of the recipients:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT! Paul here adds a final motive for their cheerful contribution, namely, that of the material and moral benefits which the brethren at Jerusalem would derive...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Paul does not stress the rightness of their ministering to the saints: this would be superfluous, for of this they were already persuaded, and so expressed themselves, so that Paul had boasted to the...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    6-15 Money bestowed in charity, may to the carnal mind seem thrown away, but when given from proper principles, it is seed sown, from which a valuable increase may be expected. It should be given car...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Interpreters are not agreed what the apostle here meaneth by God's UNSPEAKABLE GIFT. Some by it understand Christ, who is _the gift of God, _ and the Fountain of all grace; and to this the epithet _un...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. [Of course, the Christ himself is God's great gift to man, but the personality of Christ is not in the trend of Paul's argument. The thought that fills his m...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Corinthians 9:15 G1161 Thanks G5485 God G2316 for G1909 His G846 indescribable G411 gift G1431 Thanks -...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.' And what is it that achieves all this? It is God's unspeakable gift of His Son, a gift beyond describing, Who through the sacrifice of Himself made all th...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    FURTHER REASONS WHY THEY SHOULD REVEAL THEIR GENEROSITY (2 CORINTHIANS 9:1). It is often noted that this chapter appears to repeat to some extent the ideas in chapter 8, yet from a different angle, an...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _The Gift of all Gifts._ 2 Corinthians 9:15. THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT. This exquisite and resistless outburst of thanksgiving for that gift, which not only transcends all our giving...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THANKS BE TO GOD (χαρις τω θεω). Third time (verses 2 Corinthians 9:11; 2 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 9:15).FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT (επ τη ανεκδιηγητω αυτου δωρεα). One of...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Corinthians 9:15 In order to arrive at the full meaning of the words "His unspeakable gift" we should inquire what it is, of all the blessings of redemption by Christ, that most perfectly answers to...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Offering for the Jerusalem saints. Encouragement for givers. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Paul. CONCLUSION: Our return in blessings will be proportionate to what we sow. Let our works of charit...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Corinthians 9:1. _Touching the ministering to the saints_ in Judea, _it is superfluous for me to write to you._ What a method of finding the avenues of the heart. He knew their forwardness he had bo...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    FOR HIS PRICELESS GIFT! This gift is Jesus Christ himself (John 3:16), who is the source of all other gifts, and who unites Jew and Gentile in one church!!!...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 9:15 The Corinthians’ gift reflects the INEXPRESSIBLE GIFT God has given believers in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 8:9;

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 9 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He proceeds to stimulate the Corinthians to almsgiving by motives of human shame and praise; he bids them not to be put to shame before the liberality of the Mac...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ 2 Corinthians 9:1—Connected, in word [περί, in both cases] and in fact, with 1 Corinthians 15:1, which belongs to the initiation of this “collection,” this “ministration” for the poor...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION Encouragement to the Corinthians to fulfil their promises by giving speedily (2 Corinthians 9:1), amply (2 Corinthians 9:6), cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7), and thereby earn God'

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to II Corinthians, chapter nine. Paul has been, in the last couple of Chapter s, talking to them about the collection that he wanted them to take for the poor in Jerusalem....

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 16:35; 1 Chronicles 16:8; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 1 John 4:10;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Thanks, etc. These abrupt thanksgivings are common in Paul's writings. See Romans 9:5; Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 14:57; Galatians 1:5;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    His unspeakable gift — His outward and inward blessings, the number and excellence of which cannot he uttered....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Here the apostle concludes his discourse upon this great argument, with. doxology, praising and blessing God for putting it into their hearts, in so liberal. manner, to relieve the necessities of the...

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