Read & explore together
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
Paul teaches about a promised gift for God’s people and explains the spirit in which it should be given. This passage links practical giving with readiness, generosity, thanksgiving to God, and the grace God gives.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, Paul writes to the Corinthians about their service to the saints. He speaks about their earlier readiness, the brothers he has sent ahead, and the promised gift. He then explains how giving should be done and what results it brings.
2 Corinthians 9:1–15Main takeaway
This passage teaches that giving should be willing and generous, and that God uses it to meet needs and bring thanks and glory to him.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Ready for a promised giftPaul says it is almost unnecessary to write because he already knows their readiness. He has spoken well of them to others, saying Achaia has been prepared for the past year.
Explanation
Paul says it is almost unnecessary to write because he already knows their readiness. He has spoken well of them to others, saying Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Even so, he sends the brothers ahead so the gift will be ready and his confidence in them will not be disappointed.
02Generosity, not pressurePaul wants the promised gift arranged beforehand so it will be ready as generosity and not greediness.
Explanation
Paul wants the promised gift arranged beforehand so it will be ready as generosity and not greediness. He then gives a farming picture: sowing sparingly leads to a small harvest, while sowing bountifully leads to a bountiful harvest. Each person is to give as determined in the heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion.
03God gives grace for good workPaul says God is able to make all grace abound so that believers have sufficiency in everything and abound to every good work.
Explanation
Paul says God is able to make all grace abound so that believers have sufficiency in everything and abound to every good work. He includes a quotation about giving to the poor and righteousness remaining. God supplies seed and bread, and Paul asks that he would multiply their seed for sowing and increase righteous fruit.
04Giving leads to thanksgiving and glory to GodPaul says they will be enriched for all generosity, and that this produces thanksgiving to God.
Explanation
Paul says they will be enriched for all generosity, and that this produces thanksgiving to God. Their service meets the saints’ needs and overflows in many thanksgivings. It also shows the proof of their service, leading others to glorify God for their obedience to the good news of Christ and for their generous contribution.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Paul still send the brothers ahead if he already knows the Corinthians are ready?
Look at how Paul connects their earlier readiness with the need for the gift to be actually prepared before anyone arrives.
02What does Paul say should shape a person’s giving?
Notice both the inward decision of the heart and the attitude Paul rejects when he says giving is not to be grudging or forced.
03According to this passage, what results come from generous giving?
Trace the words about sufficiency, good work, thanksgiving, meeting needs, glorifying God, and prayer for one another.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Corinthians 9:1–15
1It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,
2for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.
3But I have sent the brothers so that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,
4lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting.
5I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.
6Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
9As it is written, “He has scattered abroad. He has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.”
10Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.
12For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God,
13seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all,
14while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!