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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - 2 Corinthians 9:13 - 9:13
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Experiment of this ministration (δοκιμῆς τῆς διακονίας ταύτης).
Commentators differ as to the interpretation; the difference hinging on the question whether the trial (experiment) applies to the service itself, or to those who render it: hence either “the proving of you by this ministration,” as Rev., or the tried character of this ministration. Δοκιμή may mean, either the process of proving or the state of being approved, approvedness. The difference is immaterial.
Your professed subjection (ὑποταγῇ τῆς ὁμολογίας ὑμῶν)
A vicious hendiadys. Lit., as Rev., the obedience of your confession; that is, the obedience which results from your christian confession. Ὁμολογία is once rendered in A.V. confession, 1Ti 6:13; and elsewhere profession. Both renderings occur in 1Ti 6:12, 1Ti 6:13. Rev., in every case, confession. A similar variation occurs in the rendering of ὁμολογέω, though in all but five of the twenty-three instances confess is used. Rev. retains profess in Mat 7:23; Tit 1:16, and changes to confess in 1Ti 6:12. In Mat 14:7, promised (A.V. and Rev., see note), and in Heb 13:15, giving thanks; Rev., which make confession. Etymologically, confession is the literal rendering of ὁμολογία, which is from ὁμόν together, λέγω to say; con together, fateor to say. The fundamental idea is that of saying the same thing as another; while profess (pro forth, fateor to say) is to declare openly. Hence, to profess Christ is to declare Him publicly as our Lord: to confess Christ is to declare agreement with all that He says. When Christ confesses His followers before the world, He makes a declaration in agreement with what is in His heart concerning them. Similarly, when He declares to the wicked “I never knew you” (“then will I profess, ὁμολογήσω”), a similar agreement between His thought and His declaration is implied. The two ideas run into each other, and the Rev. is right in the few cases in which it retains profess, since confess would be ambiguous. See, for example, Tit 1:16.
Liberal distribution (ἁπλότητι τῆς κοινωνίας)
Rev., correctly, liberality of your contribution. Κοινωνία communion includes the idea of communication of material things, and hence sometimes means that which is communicated. See on Act 2:42; so Rom 15:26; Heb 13:16. Compare the similar use of κοινωνέω, Rom 12:13, distributing; Phi 4:15, communicated.