2CO 9:1-15

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

1For it is unnecessary for me to write to you about the service for the holy ones;

2for I know your eagerness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians — that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

3But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter may not prove empty, so that you may be ready, just as I was saying;

4otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we — not to say you — would be put to shame in this confidence.

5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised blessing, so that it may be ready as a blessing and not as a grudging gift.

6Now this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

7Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may abound in every good work.

9As it is written: "He distributed freely, he gave to the poor; his righteousness abides forever."

10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

11You will be enriched in everything for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God.

12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying what is lacking among the holy ones, but is also overflowing through many acts of thanksgiving to God.

13Through the proof of this service they glorify God for your obedience in your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all,

14while with prayer on your behalf they also long for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, patronage and gift-giving were central to social and economic relationships, often tied to honor and reciprocity. Paul’s appeal for generosity in 2 Corinthians 9 reflects this cultural backdrop but reorients it within the early Christian community. The term (service) here refers to the financial aid collected for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem, a tangible expression of unity across ethnic and geographic boundaries. The Macedonians and Achaians, regions with distinct identities, are framed as participants in this shared act of solidarity. Paul’s emphasis on (cheerful) giving challenges the transactional nature of Greco-Roman patronage, urging a generosity rooted in sincerity rather than obligation or expectation of return. The mention of (blessing) underscores the theological dimension: the gift is not merely material but a reflection of God’s provision and grace. For the Corinthians, this appeal would resonate with their understanding of communal responsibility while subverting cultural norms of reciprocity.

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How other translations render this

2CO 9:1

KJV: For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
BSB: Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.
Koinōnos: For it is unnecessary for me to write to you about the service for the holy ones;

2CO 9:2

KJV: 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.
BSB: For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.
Koinōnos: for I know your eagerness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians — that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

2CO 9:3

KJV: 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:
BSB: But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.
Koinōnos: But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter may not prove empty, so that you may be ready, just as I was saying;

2CO 9:4

KJV: 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.
BSB: Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.
Koinōnos: otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we — not to say you — would be put to shame in this confidence.

2CO 9:5

KJV: 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.
BSB: So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.
Koinōnos: So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised blessing, so that it may be ready as a blessing and not as a grudging gift.

2CO 9:6

KJV: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
BSB: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Koinōnos: Now this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

2CO 9:7

KJV: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
BSB: Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
Koinōnos: Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

2CO 9:8

KJV: 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:
BSB: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Koinōnos: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may abound in every good work.

2CO 9:9

KJV: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
BSB: As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
Koinōnos: As it is written: "He distributed freely, he gave to the poor; his righteousness abides forever.

2CO 9:10

KJV: 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;)
BSB: Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.
Koinōnos: Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

2CO 9:11

KJV: Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
BSB: You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God.
Koinōnos: You will be enriched in everything for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God.

2CO 9:12

KJV: For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
BSB: For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
Koinōnos: For the ministry of this service is not only supplying what is lacking among the holy ones, but is also overflowing through many acts of thanksgiving to God.

2CO 9:13

KJV: 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;
BSB: Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.
Koinōnos: Through the proof of this service they glorify God for your obedience in your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all,

2CO 9:14

KJV: And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
BSB: And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
Koinōnos: while with prayer on your behalf they also long for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

2CO 9:15

KJV: Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
BSB: Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Koinōnos: Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

2CO 9:1

service:The word translated 'service' here refers to practical, often humble, assistance or ministry, particularly in meeting physical needs, rather than a formal position or high office.

2CO 9:5

blessing:The term translated 'blessing' in this context refers to a tangible gift or benefit, something given with good will, rather than just a verbal pronouncement of good fortune.

2CO 9:7

a cheerful:The word translated 'cheerful' describes someone who is joyfully willing and eager to give, reflecting an inner gladness rather than a reluctant or forced act.

2CO 9:11

generosity,:The word translated 'generosity' carries the sense of open-heartedness and sincerity, implying a lack of ulterior motives or hidden agendas in one's giving.