Thomas Aquinas Commentary 2 Corinthians 9:8-15

"And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work: as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever. And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God. For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God; seeing that through the proving [of you] by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of [your] contribution unto them and unto all; while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift." — 2 Corinthians 9:8-15 (ASV)

Here, the Apostle gives the reason for the three ways of giving. In this regard, he does two things. First, he assigns the reason on the givers' part; secondly, the reason on God’s part (see verse 11). Concerning the first point, he again does two things: first, he gives the reason, and secondly, he confirms it (see verse 9).

The reason is this: whoever gives something that is multiplied for him should give promptly, abundantly, and cheerfully. This is just as we see people sowing seed abundantly, promptly, and cheerfully, because they expect to gather it up again multiplied. Therefore, since alms are multiplied for those who give them, you should give them promptly, joyfully, and abundantly.

That they are multiplied is evident, because God is able to provide you with every blessing. It is as if the Apostle says: Do not be afraid to give, as though you will be burdened with need and regret having given, because God is able to provide you with every blessing of the Holy Spirit in abundance—namely, the grace by which you will always rejoice in the good work you have done.

He says, therefore, so that you may always be provided in abundance for every good work—that is, to have an abundant will to give alms, just as you have for the other works of virtue, and also to have a full sufficiency of external goods. Hence he says, always having enough of everything, which means considering yourself to have enough: He gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him (James 1:5); and, But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (1 Timothy 6:8). Regarding that sufficiency, it says later, My grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9). Concerning the multiplication of what is given, it says in Isaiah, And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground (Isaiah 30:25); and, And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29).

Then, when he says, As it is written, he proves his reason in two ways: by authority and from experience. He proves it by an authority when he says that this reason should rightly move you, because, As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.” However, a Gloss interprets this authority in a sense different from the Apostle’s intention. The Gloss says: I say that you shall abound for every good work—that is, by giving alms—because, As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor.” But the Apostle wishes to refer this to his statement that God is able to make every grace abound in you. This is because for the one who scattered abroad and gave to the poor, his justice remains forever: Do good to a godly man, and you will be repaid .

In the authority cited, we note several points. We see to whom one should give—namely, to the poor, that is, to the needy: When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid (Luke 14:12). We also see how to give—namely, he scatters abroad, meaning not all to one person, but divided among many: If I give away all I have (1 Corinthians 13:3); Is it not to share your bread with the hungry (Isaiah 58:7). Finally, we see that his righteousness (or justice)—that is, the reward for justice—endures forever: But one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward (Proverbs 11:18).

He confirms his reason from experience when he says, He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food. It is as if to say: You know from experience that what you give in alms you have from the Lord; therefore, you should give gladly for the love of God: For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you (1 Chronicles 29:14). In this regard, he addresses three potential concerns:

1. Someone might say, “If we give what we have now, we will lack what is necessary for daily food.” But he rejects this, saying that God not only supplies seed to the sower, but also bread for food—that is, the necessities of life: He who gives food to all flesh (Psalms 136:24).
2. They might say, “If we give much, we will not have enough to give again.” The Apostle answers that they will not be in want; rather, God will multiply your sowing, from which you can give more alms.
3. Someone might say, “If we give now, the will to give will be lost, and we will regret having given, and so we will lose everything.” But he removes this concern, saying that God will increase the harvest of your righteousness (or justice). That is, He will increase the ability to give alms and the will from which your justice proceeds, to such a degree that you will always be prepared and ready to give, and the fruit will be immense in comparison with the small seed: Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce (Proverbs 3:9); I will command my blessing upon you (Leviticus 25:21); Godliness is of value in every way (1 Timothy 4:8).

Then, when he says, You will be enriched in every way, after assigning the reason on the donors' part for why they should give promptly, abundantly, and cheerfully, he then assigns the reason on God’s part, for whom they ought to give. First, he assigns the reason they should give; secondly, he explains it (see verse 12).

In the reason assigned, three things are to be considered:

1. Their enrichment, which corresponds to what was said before. For he had said earlier that God will multiply your sowing and increase the fruits of your justice. He recalls the first part of this, saying, You will be enriched in every way—that is, in both bodily and spiritual goods: That in every way you were enriched in him (1 Corinthians 1:5).
2. This enrichment must be directed toward great generosity with a simple spirit. Lest anyone suppose that one's goal should be an abundance of temporal riches, or that one should possess spiritual goods in idleness without using them, the Apostle connects this enrichment to generosity. In this way, the giving comes from temporal goods, but the simplicity comes from spiritual goods: The integrity of the upright guides them (Proverbs 11:13).
3. This generosity should itself be directed toward another end: God. Therefore, he adds that this simple abundance through us will produce thanksgiving to God: Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Then, when he says, for the rendering of this service, he explains the reason mentioned above: how their abundance produces thanksgiving to God. First, he shows this; secondly, he gives the reason for the thanks (see verse 13); and thirdly, he breaks out in thanksgiving himself (see verse 14).

He says, therefore: I say that your abundance produces thanksgiving to God, because the rendering of this service of yours, by which you help the saints, has many good results: As a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want (2 Corinthians 8:14). Not only does this good result from it, but also the fact that they pray for you and give thanks to God, proving and approving your service. This is what he says: it also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. These thanks are given by many—not only by the perfect, but also by the poor believers who give thanks to God in the Lord, who moves them to do so as they see and approve of your ministry: So that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers (2 Corinthians 1:2).

This thanksgiving is given for three reasons:

1. For their faith, which they have received. Hence, he says that they abound in thanksgiving, with the faithful glorifying God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ—that is, the confession of your faith, by which you confess and believe in Christ: Let your light so shine before men (Matthew 5:16); The word of a man who hears will endure (Proverbs 21:28).
2. Because of their abundance. Hence, he says they are glorifying God also for the generosity of your contribution for them—namely, the holy poor—and for all others—namely, the faithful in need. This contribution is given with a simple and pure spirit: Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches (Galatians 6:6); and Let us do good to all men (Galatians 6:10).
3. Because of what these saints have from God, for which they may give thanks. Hence, he says they are glorifying God also in their praying for you. That is, they glorify God for the fact that those holy men pray for you—the men, I say, who desire to see you in eternal happiness. This is because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

From this, the Apostle breaks forth in thanksgiving to God, saying, Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! This gift is the charity especially seen in you, who help those who in turn thank God and pray for you. This gift is inexpressible because it cannot be said how beneficial it is, for, What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9).