• II Corinthians 9:1
  • Purpose for which these alms were taken and sent:
    • Paul said seven times that these alms were for needy saints in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25,26,31
    • To use these funds for any other purpose, no matter how worthy would be a misappropriation of funds.
  • This benevolence was to accomplish two things:
    • Supply the want of the saints.
    • Cause many thanksgivings to go up to God.
  • Translations of “koinonia”
    • Distribution (ESV)
    • Sharing (NKJV)
    • Fellowship (Nestles)
    • Communication (Berry)
    • Contribution (NASB and ESV)
  • “All” must be taken in context.
    • “Unto them” - poor Jewish saints in Jerusalem
    • “Unto all” - all Jewish saints in Jerusalem
  • “All” in this context could not be referring to non-saints
    • The “all” glorified God; non-saints cannot do that.
    • The “all” thanked God for Gentile Christians; non-saints did not do that.
    • The “all” longed for their Gentile brethren; non-saints did not do that.
    • The inevitable conclusion is that “all” were the people of the context, i.e., Jewish saints in Jerusalem.
  • What others have said:
    • J.W. McGarvey
    • W.B. Johnson
    • Geikie
    • McKnight