1 FOR as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2 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.
3 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:
4 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.
5 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.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 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:
9 (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.

1For as touching the ministring to the Saints, it is superfluous for mee to write to you.

2For I know the forwardnesse of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a yeere agoe, and your zeale hath prouoked very many.

3Yet haue I sent the brethren, least our boasting of you should bee in vaine in this behalfe, that as I saide, yee may be readie.

4Lest happily if they of Macedonia come with mee, & find you vnprepared, wee (that wee say not, you) should bee ashamed in this same confident boasting.

5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before vnto you, and make vp before hand your bountie, whereof yee had notice before, that the same might bee readie, as a matter of bountie, not of couetousnesse.

6But this I say, Hee which soweth sparingly, shall reape sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully, shall reape bountifully.

7Euerie man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him giue; not grudgingly, or of necessitie: for God loueth a cheerefull giuer.

8And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that ye alwayes hauing all sufficiencie in all things, may abound to euery good worke,

9(As it is written: Hee hath dispersed abroad: Hee hath giuen to the poore: his righteousnesse remaineth for euer.

10Now he that ministreth seede to the sower, both minister bread for your foode, and multiply your seede sowen, and encrease the fruites of your righteousnesse)

11Being enriched in euery thing to al bountifulnes, which causeth through vs thankesgiuing to God.

12For the administration of this seruice, not onely supplieth the want of the Saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgiuings vnto God,

13Whiles by the experiment of this ministration, they glorifie God for your professed subiection vnto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberall distribution vnto them, and vnto all men:

14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

15Thanks be vnto God for his vnspeakeable gift.

 

1 Now about the service to the holy ones, it is superfluous for me to write to you, 2 for I know your eagerness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 Nonetheless, I sent the brothers so that our boast about you might not prove empty in this case, so that you might be ready, as I said, 4 for fear that if any Macedonians come with me and find you not ready we might be put to shame (to say nothing of you) in this conviction. 5 So I thought it necessary to encourage the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for your promised gift, so that in this way it might be ready as a bountiful gift and not as an exaction. 6 Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God, 12 for the administration of this public service is not only supplying the needs of the holy ones but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. 13 Through the evidence of this service, you are glorifying God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your contribution to them and to all others, 14 while in prayer on your behalf they long for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

V1-4. This continues the thought that the Corinthians and Paul would both be embarrassed if they would fail to come through with their gifts as he had claimed to the other churches. Here were some good points for receiving an offering:
He had explained the need.
He had informed well in advance that the offering would be taken.
He did not use high pressure or questionable tactics.
His appeal was direct, sincere and straightforward.
v5. Bounty here is a consecrated benefit and blessing, not taken from them as a matter of greed or extortion. 
v6. A farmer can’t expect an abundant harvest if he plants a very small amount of seed. A good starting point of giving would be the tithe, 10%, but a wealthy man might give 90% and have more left than the poor person giving 10%.
v7. All should give voluntarily and cheerfully, not because they feel pressured into it. And not as the woman of more capability who put in a quarter and said, “I don’t give much, but I give cheerfully.”
v8-11.  God’s grace, His undeserved favor to us, is all sufficient, can supply every need. Of course that gives us no excuse to be slothful, Rom. 12:11. This does not mean the needs will be supplied a long time in advance. Matt. 6:11, day by day. God blesses the giver, and both the giver and the receivers are stimulated to thank God.
v12-14. This offering would not only supply the need of the Jerusalem believers, it would help convince those who still kept the ceremonies of the Law that the Gentile believers were true believers in Christ. This would unite them in fellowship and prayer.
v15. This reminds us all that the gift of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ far surpasses any gift we may give.