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.
So I figured it was important to ask some of the guys to head over to you first and help you get that generous gift ready, the one you already promised. That way it'll actually be ready to go as the generous offering you intended, not something you're scrambling to put together last minute out of obligation.
Paul's basically saying 'let's prep your generous gift ahead of time so it comes from the heart, not from pressure.'
📚 Historical Context
In the first century AD, the Apostle Paul was organizing a financial collection from Gentile churches, like the one in Corinth, to support the impoverished Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, as a way to foster unity and fellowship in the early church. This collection was part of Paul's broader missionary efforts to relieve suffering and demonstrate the interconnectedness of believers. In 2 Corinthians 9:5, Paul specifically urges the Corinthians to prepare their gift ahead of time so it would be seen as a genuine act of generosity rather than something given reluctantly under pressure.
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