Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 9:3

"But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:" — 2 Corinthians 9:3 (ASV)

Although Paul knew that the Corinthians were so eager to help that further written reminders about the collection were superfluous (vv.1–2), he was sending a personal reminder in the form of the “brothers” (cf. 8:16–24). Paul wanted to avoid two situations. One was that his repeated and confident boast to the Macedonians about the Corinthians’ “eagerness” and readiness (v.2) would turn out to be without foundation upon his arrival. The other was that when delegates from the Macedonian churches arrived at Corinth with Paul on his forthcoming visit (12:11: 13:1–2), the Corinthians would be still unprepared and this would lead to his (and their own) embarrassment.