Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 9:12

ὅτι ἡ διακονία τῆς λειτουργίας ταύτης κ.τ.λ. This explains how the relief fund has this religious side: because the ministration of this public service is not only filling up the measure of the wants of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God. The use of διακονία in this connexion (comp. 2 Corinthians 9:1; 2 Corinthians 8:4) should be compared with Acts 11:29; Acts 12:25, where it is used of Barnabas and Saul carrying help from Antioch to those suffering from famine in Judea; also with Romans 15:31, where the variant δωροφορία (BDG, d e) is correct as a gloss. On διακονία and διάκονος see Hort, The Christian Ecclesia, pp. 202 ff. The use of λειτουργία here is close to the original use, viz. of the ‘aids’ which wealthy Athenians had to render to the State, e.g. supplying choruses for plays, equipping men-of-war, &c. This was a ‘service to the public,’ or a ‘public service.’ Among the Jews λειτουραγία meant priestly ministrations (Luke 1:23; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:21; Numbers and Chronicles passim). Among Christians it was used specially of the eucharist, but also of public worship generally; and ‘liturgy’ is derived directly from it. See D. of Chr. Ant. vol. II. pp. 1018 ff., and Lightfoot’s notes on Philippians 2:17; Philippians 2:30. Comp. the use of λειτουργεῖν in Romans 15:27. Here the genitive is of apposition, and the διακονία which is λειτουργία refers, not to the ministration of the Apostle and his fellows, but to that of the Corinthians, as appears from 2 Corinthians 9:13. S. Paul is anxious to stir them up to a bountiful contribution rather than to call attention to his own share in the work.

προσαναπληροῦσα. Filling up in addition to what had been done before, supplementing other kinds of assistance. The Corinthian contribution would be an additional supply; comp. 2 Corinthians 11:9; in Plat. Meno 84 D the compound is used of filling up in addition the vacant part of a geometrical figure. For ὑστέρημα comp. 2 Corinthians 8:13-14; Luke 21:4 : τῷ θεῷ with περισσεύουσα rather than εὐχαριστιῶν.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 9:12

Old Testament

New Testament