Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 9:4

"lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence." — 2 Corinthians 9:4 (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.