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2 Corinthians 9:5
ESV So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
NIV So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
NASB So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised generous gift, that the same would be ready as a generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.
CSB Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.
NLT So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
KJV 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.

What does 2 Corinthians 9:5 mean?

Paul is coming to Corinth to officially receive their contribution to a collection for suffering believers in Jerusalem. He is concerned, though. His worry is that after all his confidence and compliments—assuring others of their promises to make a generous donation—which he describes as boasting about them to other churches, they may have nothing to give. That would be embarrassing for everyone involved. It would especially degrading to the Macedonians who have contributed so sacrificially.

To avoid this, Paul is sending an advance delegation to make sure the Corinthians have at least a little time to get ready. Titus and the other two men will arrive ahead of the official group and help to arrange a willing gift from the Corinthians. Paul does not want there to be any sense that the Corinthians are being compelled or obligated to give anything, as if their donation was being forced from them instead of given generously out of Christlike love.
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