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捐得樂意的人為 神喜愛

關於供應聖徒的事,我本來沒有寫信給你們的必要, 因為我知道你們有這個心願。我對馬其頓人稱讚你們,說:“亞該亞人去年已經預備好了。”你們的熱心就激勵了許多的人。 我派了那幾位弟兄前來,為了要使我們在這事上對你們的稱讚不至落空,好讓你們可以照著我所說的準備妥當, 免得一旦馬其頓人和我一同來到的時候,見你們還沒有準備好,我們就因為這樣信任你們而感到羞愧,你們就更不用說了。 因此,我認為必須勸那幾位弟兄先到你們那裡去,使你們事先籌足從前所答應的捐款。那麼,你們這樣的準備,就是出於樂意的,不是勉強的。

還有,少種的少收,多種的多收。 各人要照著心裡所決定的捐輸,不要為難,不必勉強,因為捐得樂意的人,是 神所喜愛的。  神能把各樣的恩惠多多地加給你們,使你們凡事常常充足,多作各樣的善事。 如經上所說:

“他廣施錢財,賙濟窮人;

他的仁義,存到永遠。”

10 但那賜種子給撒種的,又賜食物給人吃的 神,必定把種子加倍地供給你們,也必增添你們的義果。 11 你們既然凡事富裕,就可以慷慨地捐輸,使眾人藉著我們,對 神生出感謝的心。 12 因為這供應的事,不僅補足了聖徒的缺乏,也使許多人對 神感謝的心格外增多。 13 眾聖徒因為你們承認和服從了基督的福音,並且慷慨地捐輸給他們和眾人,藉著你們在這供應的事上所得的憑據,就把榮耀歸給 神。 14 因著 神在你們身上的厚恩,他們就為你們禱告,切切地想念你們。 15 感謝 神,他的恩賜難以形容。

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 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. 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: 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. 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.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 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: (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 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 righteousness;) 11 being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 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 them, and unto all men; 14 and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Administering the Gift

Now concerning (A)the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a (B)year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. (C)Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this [a]confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to [b]exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a [c]grudging obligation.

The Cheerful Giver

(D)But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows [d]bountifully will also reap [e]bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, (E)not grudgingly or of [f]necessity; for (F)God loves a cheerful giver. (G)And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:

(H)“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now [g]may He who (I)supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, [h]supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your (J)righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, (K)which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only (L)supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they (M)glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal (N)sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding (O)grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God (P)for His indescribable gift!

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:4 NU confidence.
  2. 2 Corinthians 9:5 encourage
  3. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit. covetousness
  4. 2 Corinthians 9:6 with blessings
  5. 2 Corinthians 9:6 with blessings
  6. 2 Corinthians 9:7 compulsion
  7. 2 Corinthians 9:10 NU omits may
  8. 2 Corinthians 9:10 NU will supply