For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: Ver. 1. _The ministering to the saints_] Or the service that ye owe the saints in ministering to their necessities, διακονια. Amadeus, duke of Savoy, Stephanus, king of Hungary, Hooper, bishop of Gloucester, an... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _Was ready_] To wit, in their resolutions; for the collection was not yet made. _ And your zeal_] _i.e._ Your liberal contribntio... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 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. Ver. 4. _In this same conf... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as _a matter of_ bounty, and not as _of_ covetousness. Ver. 5. _Not of covetousness_] _Non ut extortum aliquid... [ Continue Reading ]
But this _I say_, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Ver. 6. _Which soweth bountifully_] Gr. "that soweth in blessings," εν ευλογιαις; alluding to Ezekiel 34:26; Ecclesiastes 11:1; "Cast thy bread upon the water," that i... [ Continue Reading ]
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, _so let him give_; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Ver. 7. _According as he purposeth_] God straineth upon none. See Leviticus 5:6; Leviticus 5:12; Leviticus 14:10; Leviticus 14:21; Leviticus 14:30. Liberality impli... [ Continue Reading ]
And God _is_ able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all _things_, may abound to every good work: Ver. 8. _And God is able_] Fear not therefore lest yourselves should want hereafter, if you should give liberally now. Is not mercy as sure a grain as vanity... [ Continue Reading ]
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Ver. 9. _He hath dispersed abroad_] General Norice was like that bishop of Lincoln, that never thought he had that thing that he did not give. Of Mr Wiseheart, the Scottish martyr, it is re... [ Continue Reading ]
_ His righteousness endureth for ever_] Never did a charitable act go away without the retribution of a blessing. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 10:42 _"_ 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for _your_ food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousne... [ Continue Reading ]
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. Ver. 11. _Which causeth through us_] While we not only relieve them, but instruct them, as Bishop Hooper did his board of beggars, as Dr Taylor the martyr did the alms people of Hadleigh, and other poo... [ Continue Reading ]
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for _your_ liberal distribution unto... [ Continue Reading ]
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Ver. 14. _And by their prayer for you_] A poor Christian's prayers cannot be bought too dearly. "I will restore comfort to him, and to his mourners," Isaiah 57:18. Such can do much with God. _Et cum talis fueri... [ Continue Reading ]
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 4:10, and the benefit, 1 Timothy 6:2 .... [ Continue Reading ]