2 Corinthians 8:9

Context

In chapters 8–9 of 2 Corinthians, Paul urges the church at Corinth to contribute to a collection for the poor saints of the church in Jerusalem. Paul points to the churches of Macedonia, which gave abundantly despite affliction and poverty (8:1-5). He then announces that he is sending Titus so that the Corinthians may complete the collection they had begun a year earlier (8:6, 10). Paul says that this appeal is not a command but a way of testing the sincerity of their love (8:8). As the ground for his appeal, he cites the example of Christ in this verse: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (KJV).

In chapter 8, "grace" (Greek charis) does not refer only to the grace of Christ. The act of giving to the collection is itself repeatedly called by this word (8:4, 6, 7). A single term thus links the grace Christ bestowed with the Corinthians' own giving.

Interpretation

• Incarnational reading: This has been the most widely accepted interpretation since the early church. "Rich" refers to the glory Christ possessed before coming into the world, and "poor" refers to his humbling himself to become human and to his life leading up to the cross. On this reading, the verse is treated in Christology, alongside Philippians 2:6-8, as a text that reveals Christ's preexistence (his existence before coming into the world) and the incarnation (God becoming human). The original text contrasts "being rich" with "he became poor" (a past tense denoting a single, completed event).
• Earthly-life reading: Some New Testament scholars do not presuppose preexistence. They hold instead that the verse speaks of Christ's humiliation in his earthly life or in his death. This is regarded as a minority view among scholars.
• Exemplary reading: Paul wrote this verse not to expound doctrine but to encourage the collection. Commentators who emphasize this point read Christ's self-giving as both the motive and the model for believers' sharing with one another.

Debates and Issues

Debate centers mainly on the nature of the "riches" that believers receive.

• Spiritual riches: Most commentaries understand the term as spiritual abundance, such as the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and eternal life. They also point out that in the same letter Paul describes himself "as poor, yet making many rich" (6:10).
• Including material prosperity: Preachers associated with prosperity theology cite this verse as evidence that salvation includes material prosperity. In Korea, it is reportedly cited, together with other passages, in explaining the "Gospel of Blessing" within the "Fivefold Gospel" of the Full Gospel tradition. This position holds that salvation extends not only to the soul but also to the body and to the whole of life. Its proponents add that it also stresses sharing the blessings one has received.
• Criticism as citation out of context: Critics of this interpretation point out that the surrounding context is an exhortation not to "become rich" but to "give to the poor saints." They also note that the immediately following passage, 8:13-15, speaks of "equality," in which those with a surplus supply those in need.

In the Korean Church

Because it speaks of Christ humbling himself to come into the world, the verse is often used as a text for Christmas sermons. Since its original context is an appeal for a collection, it is also frequently cited in sermons on offerings and almsgiving.

Related Passages

• Philippians 2:6-8
• 2 Corinthians 8:13-15
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
• 2 Corinthians 5:21