2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He that supplied seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness.
Herein one may particularly admire the wisdom of Paul, that after having exhorted from spiritual considerations and from temporal, in respect of the recompense also he again does the very same, making the returns he mentions of either kind. This, (for instance,) He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness abides for ever, belongs to a spiritual return; that again, multiply your seed for sowing, to a temporal recompense. Still, however, he rests not here, but even again passes back to what is spiritual, placing the two continually side by side; for increase the fruits of your righteousness, is spiritual. This he does, and gives variety by it to his discourse, tearing up by the roots those their unmanly and faint-hearted reasonings, and using many arguments to dissipate their fear of poverty, as also the example which he now brings. For if even to those that sow the earth God gives, if to those that feed the body He grants abundance; much more will He to those who till the soil of heaven, to those who take care for the soul; for these things He wills should yet more enjoy His providing care. However, he does not state this in the way of inference nor in the manner I have done, but in the form of a prayer; thus at once making the reference plain, and the rather leading them on to hope, not only from what [commonly] takes place, but also from his own prayer: for, ‘May He minister,’ says he, ‘and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.’ Here also again he hints, in an unsuspicious way, at largeness [in giving], for the words, multiply and increase, are by way of indicating this; and at the same time he allows them to seek for nothing more than necessaries, saying, bread for food. For this also is particularly worthy of admiration in him, (and it is a point he successfully established even before,) namely, that in things which be necessary, he allows them to seek for nothing more than need requires; but in spiritual things counsels them to get for themselves a large superabundance. Wherefore he said above also, that having a sufficiency ye may abound to every good wor9: and here, He that ministers bread for food, multiply your seed for sowing; that is to say, the spiritual [seed]. For he asks not almsgiving merely, but with largeness. Wherefore also he continually calls it seed. For like as the grain cast into the ground shows luxuriant crops, so also many are the handfuls almsgiving produces of righteousness, and unspeakable the fruits it shows. Then having prayed for great affluence unto them, he shows again in what they ought to expend it, saying,
2 Corinthians 9:11
That being enriched in every thing to all liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.
Not that you may consume it upon things not fitting, but upon such as bring much thanksgiving to God. For God made us to have the disposal of great things, and reserving to Himself that which is less yielded to us that which is greater. For corporeal nourishment is at His sole disposal, but mental He permitted to us; for we have it at our own disposal whether the crops we have to show be luxuriant. For no need is here of rains and of variety of seasons, but of the will only, and they run up to heaven itself. And largeness in giving is what he here calls liberality. Which works through us thanksgiving to God. For neither is that which is done almsgiving merely, but also the ground of much thanksgiving: yea rather, not of thanksgiving only, but of many other things besides. And these as he goes on he mentions, that by showing it to be the cause of many good works, he may make them thereby the forwarder.
- What then are these many good works? Hear him saying:
2 Corinthians 9:12-14
For the ministration of this service, not only fills up the measure of the wants of the saints, but abounds also through many thanksgivings unto God; seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the Gospel, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all; while they also with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
What he says is this; ‘in the first place ye not only supply the wants of the saints, but you are abundant even;’ that is, ‘ye furnish them with even more than they need: next, through them ye send up thanksgiving to God, for they glorify Him for the obedience of your confession.’ For that he may not represent them as giving thanks on this account solely, (I mean, because they received somewhat,) see how high-minded he makes them, exactly as he himself says to the Philippians, Not that I desire a gift. ‘To them too I bear record of the same thing. For they rejoice indeed that you supply their wants and alleviate their poverty; but far more, in that you are so subjected to the Gospel; whereof this is an evidence, your contributing so largely.’ For this the Gospel enjoins.
And for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all. ‘And on this account,’ he says, ‘they glorify God that you are so liberal, not unto them only, but also unto all.’ And this again is made a praise unto them that they gave thanks even for that which is bestowed upon others. ‘For,’ says he, ‘they do honor, not to their own concerns only, but also to those of others, and this although they are in the extremest poverty; which is an evidence of their great virtue. For nothing is so full of envy as the whole race of such as are in poverty. But they are pure from this passion; being so far from feeling pained because of the things ye impart to others, that they even rejoice over it no less than over the things themselves receive.’
While they themselves also with supplication. ‘For in respect of these things,’ says he, ‘they give thanks to God, but in respect of your love and your coming together, they beseech Him that they may be counted worthy to see you. For they long after this, not for the money’s sake, but that they may be witnesses of the grace that has been bestowed upon you.’ Do you see Paul’s wisdom, how after having exalted them, he ascribed the whole to God by calling the thing grace? For seeing he had spoken great things of them, in that he called them ministers and exalted them unto a great height, (since they offered service while he himself did but administer,) and termed them ’ proved,’ he shows that God was the Author of all these things. And he himself again, along with them, sends up thanksgiving, saying,