2 Corinthians 9:15

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 there from. The word which the apostle uses for service is that which is otherwise used for the forms of Christian worship. By taking part in this collection according to the manner as outlined by him, the Corinthians would actually be active in the public worship of God, in their ministration for the Christian community at Jerusalem. They would not only be supplying or filling up the needs of the saints by giving them what they needed for their sustenance, but their service would also abound through many thanksgivings to God. The poor at Jerusalem would have reasons for a twofold thanksgiving to God: for the material aid which they would receive, and for the spirit which would thereby be manifested by the brethren at a distance. The latter point is emphasized by the apostle: Inasmuch as they glorify God through the proof afforded by this ministry of the obedience which flows from your confession of the Gospel of Christ. The receipt of this most welcome aid from the brethren at a distance would necessarily convince the Christians at Jerusalem of the fact that the former had in truth become obedient to the Gospel, that their faith in Jesus Christ was working in them the true fruits of love, of which fact their act of charity was a confession. It was a real obedience to the Gospel which the members of the Asian, Macedonian, and Achaian congregations professed by their act of charity, by the liberality of their contribution toward the poor in Jerusalem and to all; it showed the existence of a real communion of faith and spiritual interests, which was active in such a splendid manner, wherever the need of help became known. In other words: "They who receive such a proof as this ministration gives, will give glory to God for your obedience to the confession you have made with respect to the Gospel of Christ, and for the common fellowship with them and with all Christians which your single-hearted liberality displays."

That the sense of fellowship would be strengthened by the presentation of this collection is a fact which Paul also does not overlook: While they also, with prayers for you, in your behalf, long after you on account of the surpassing grace of God upon you. The thankfulness of the Christians at Jerusalem would cause them to ask God's blessings upon these friends in the distant countries, of whose love they had such abundant evidence. And, incidentally, they would yearn with an affection intensified by this display of love for those benefactors in whom the rich working of God's grace had shown such extraordinary results. It is ever thus: When Christians send the free gifts of their love for the alleviation of the hardships and troubles of fellow-believers at a distance, the latter will be united with them in spirit more closely than before, mutual affection will be strengthened, mutual prayers will become more fervent. Continents and oceans may separate Christians, but the consciousness of the same faith, the same lore, as evidenced by some token of fellowship, will unite their hearts more closely than by the closest earthly relationship.

As Paul contemplates this wonderful result of the divine grace in the congregation at Corinth, there arises from the depth of his soul an outburst of holy thankfulness: Thanks be to God for His unspeakable Gift! If it had not been for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His redemption, such a result would not have been possible in this congregation, which, a few short years before, had not even heard of the poor believers in Judea. But the miraculous gift of Christ Himself, John 3:16; Isaiah 9:6, and of salvation in Him had worked this transformation in the hearts of the Corinthian Christians, had wrought this thankful appreciation which bore such rich fruit in their lives, which made them so willing to give evidence of their faith by the gifts of their hands. The same power is at work in the Christian Church today and should at all times be duly acknowledged in adoring gratefulness.

Summary

Paul reminds the Corinthians of their willingness to contribute their share of the collection, which has acted as a stimulus to others; he urges them to have their contribution ready by the time of his arrival in Corinth; he reminds them of the fact that liberal giving is blessed, and calls forth the blessing of the recipients.