He proceedeth exhorting them to the foresaid contribution, 3 to verify his commending of them. 6 and to do it liberally, that so they may merit the more, and God be the more praised.He proceedeth exhorting them to the foresaid contribution, 3 to verifie his commending of them. 6 and to do it liberally, that so they may merite the more, and God be the more praised.✦
For concerning the ministry that is done toward the saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.FOR concerning the ministerie that is done toward the sainctes, it is superfluous for me to write vnto you.¶✦Nam de ministerio, quod fit in sanctos ex abundanti est mihi scribere vobis.
2For I know your promptum: punctual, on time; ready, eager mind: for the which I glory of you to the Macedonians: That Achaia also is ready from the year past, and your aemulatio: jealous rivalry; zealous eagerness, ardour hath provocavit: angered, incited to wrath; stirred up, incited (to good) very many.For I know your prompt minde: for the which I glorie of you to the Macedonians: That Achaia also is ready from the yere past, and your emulation hath prouoked very many.¶✦Scio enim promptum animum vestrum : pro quo de vobis glorior apud Macedones. Quoniam et Achaia parata est ab anno præterito, et vestra æmulatio provocavit plurimos.
3But I have sent the brethren, that the thing which we glory of you, be not made void in this behalf, that (as I have said) you may be ready:But I haue sent the brethren, that the thing which we glorie of you, be not made voide in this behalfe, that (as I haue said) you may be ready:¶Misi autem fratres : ut ne quod gloriamur de vobis, evacuetur in hac parte, ut (quemadmodum dixi) parati sitis :
4lest when the Macedonians shall come with me, and find you unready, we (that we say not, ye) may be ashamed in this substantia: material wealth; this matter, undertaking, confident venture.lest when the Macedonians shal come with me, and finde you vnready, we (that we say not, ye) may be ashamed c in this substance.ne cum venerint Macedones mecum, et invenerint vos imparatos, erubescamus nos (ut non dicamus vos) in hac substantia.
5Therefore I thought it necessary to desire the brethren that they would come to you, and prepare this blessing before promised, to be ready so, as a blessing, not as avaritiam: bare greed; a grudging exaction, something extorted.Therfore I thought it necessarie to desire the brethren that they would come to you, and prepare this blessing before promised, to be ready so, as a blessing, not as auarice.✦Necessarium ergo existimavi rogare fratres, ut præveniant ad vos, et præparent repromissam benedictionem hanc paratam esse sic, quasi benedictionem, non tamquam avaritiam.
6And this I say, he that soweth sparingly, sparingly also shall reap: and he that soweth in blessings, of blessings also shall reap.And this I say, he that soweth sparingly, sparingly also shal reape: and he that soweth in blessings, of blessings also shal reape.✦Hoc autem dico : qui parce seminat, parce et metet : et qui seminat in benedictionibus, de benedictionibus et metet.
7Every one as he hath determined in his heart, not of tristitia: gloom, unhappiness; grudging reluctance, sorrow or of necessity. for God loveth a cheerful giver.Euery one as he hath determined in his hart, not of sadnes or of necessitie. for *God loueth a cheerful giuer.✦Unusquisque, prout destinavit in corde suo, non ex tristitia, aut ex necessitate : hilarem enim datorem diligit Deus.
8And God is able to make all grace abound in you: that in all things always having all sufficiency, you may abound to all good works,And God is able to make al grace abound in you: that in all things alwaies hauing al sufficiencie, you may abound to al good workes,✦Potens est autem Deus omnem gratiam abundare facere in vobis : ut in omnibus semper omnem sufficientiam habentes, abundetis in omne opus bonum,
9as it is written: He distributed, he gave to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever.as it is written: *He distributed, he gaue to the poore: his iustice remaineth for euer.✦sicut scriptum est : Dispersit, dedit pauperibus : justitia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.
10And he that ministreth seed to the sower, will give bread also for to eat: and will multiply your seed, and will augment the increases of the fruits of your justice:And he that ministreth seede to the sower, wil giue bread also for to eate: & wil multiplie your seede, and wil augment the increases of the fruites of your iustice:✦Qui autem administrat semen seminanti : et panem ad manducandum præstabit, et multiplicabit semen vestrum, et augebit incrementa frugum justitiæ vestræ :
11that being enriched in all things, you may abound unto all simplicitatem: mental simpleness; single-hearted, openhanded liberality, which worketh by us thanksgiving to God.that being enriched in al things, you may abound vnto al simplicitie, which worketh by vs thankes-giuing to God.✦ut in omnibus locupletati abundetis in omnem simplicitatem, quæ operatur per nos gratiarum actionem Deo.
12Because the ministry of this office doth not only supply those things that the Saints want, but aboundeth also by many thanksgivings in our Lord,Because the ministerie of this office doth not only supplie those things that the Saincts want, but aboundeth also by many thankes-giuings in our Lord,✦Quoniam ministerium hujus officii non solum supplet ea quæ desunt sanctis, sed etiam abundat per multas gratiarum actiones in Domino,
13by the proof of this ministry, glorifying God in the obedience of your confession unto the Gospel of Christ, and in the simplicity of communicating unto them, and unto all,by the proofe of this ministerie, glorifying God in the obedience of your confession vnto the Gospel of Christ, and in the simplicitie of communicating vnto them, and vnto al,✦per probationem ministerii hujus, glorificantes Deum in obedientia confessionis vestræ, in Evangelium Christi, et simplicitate communicationis in illos, et in omnes,
14and in their praying for you, being desirous of you because of the excellent grace of God in you.and in their praying for you, being desirous of you because of the excellent grace of God in you.✦et in ipsorum obsecratione pro vobis, desiderantium vos propter eminentem gratiam Dei in vobis.
15Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.Thankes be to God for his vnspeakeable gift.✦Gratias Deo super inenarrabili dono ejus.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
1Toward the Saints. By the Apostles earnest and often calling upon the Corinthians to give alms for relieving the faithful in distress, the Pastors of God's Church may learn, that it specially pertaineth to their office to be procters for holy men in prison, poverty, and all other necessity, specially when their want commeth for confession of their faith.Toward the Saints. By the Apostles earnest and often calling vpon the Corinthians to giue almes for relieuing the faithful in distresse, the Pastors of Gods Church may learne, that it specially pertaineth to their office to be procters for holy men in prison, pouertie, and al other necessitie, specially when their want commeth for confession of their faith.
2Not as avarice. The covetous man that parteth with his peny painfully and with sorrow as though he lost a limb of his body, is noted, and cheerful, ready, voluntary, and large contribution is commended.Not as auarice. The couetous man that parteth with his peny painefully and with sorow as though he lost a limme of his body, is noted, and cheereful, ready, voluntarie, and large contribution is commended.
3Soweth sparingly. Alms is compared to seed. for as the seed thrown into the ground, though it seem to be cast away, yet is not lost, but is laid up in certain hope of great increase: so that which men give in alms, though it seem to be cast away and to perish in respect of the giver, yet in deed it is most fruitful, the benefit thereof manifoldly returning to him again. Whereupon the Apostles conclusion is clear, that according to the measure of the alms or seeding (which is more or less in respect of the will and ability of the giver) the increase and abundance of harvest, that is, of grace and glory shall ensue. See S. Augustine in Psal. 49 circa med. and q. 4. ad Dulcitium.Soweth sparingly. Almes is compared to seede. for as the seede throwen into the ground, though it seme to be cast away, yet is not lost, but is laid vp in certaine hope of great encrease: so that which men giue in almes, though it seeme to be cast away and to perish in respect of the giuer, yet in deede it is most fruitful, the benefite thereof manifoldly returning to him againe. Wherevpon the Apostles conclusion is cleere, that according to the measure of the almes or seeding (which is more or lesse in respect of the wil and abilitie of the giuer) the encrease and aboundance of haruest, that is, of grace and glorie shal ensue. See S. Augustine in Psal. 49 circa med. & q. 4. ad Dulcitium.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.